Rhode Island Gas Prices Spike 9 Cents In A Week

PROVIDENCE, RI — The average price for a gallon of gas spike by nine cents over the past week, after more than a month of holding steady around $3 per gallon.

Rhode Island's average price per gallon is now $3.18, up from $3.09 last week. That's 11 cents higher than this time last month, and more than $1 higher than this time last year, when the average price was $2.13.

"The key driver for this recent rise in the price of gas is crude oil, which typically accounts for between 50 percent and 60 percent of the price at the pump," said Lloyd Albert, a spokesperson for AAA Northeast. "And last week’s decision by OPEC and its oil-producing allies to not increase production further also helped boost gas prices by tightening the supply."

While Rhode Island's average gas price per gallon is relatively high, it's nine cents lower than the current national average of $3.27. Massachusetts is close to Rhode Island, averaging $3.19, while Connecticut is higher than the national average at $3.31.