Gas Prices Increased Slightly Last Week

Gas prices continued to rise both nationally and locally last week, even as prices at the pump appeared to stabilize slightly, according to the latest survey by AAA.

The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded was $3.58 a gallon, up 3 cents from a week ago and 77 cents from a year ago. In Maryland, the average price for regular unleaded was $3.57 a gallon, up a penny from last week and 77 cents from a year ago, according to the survey.

Gas prices still are below the all-time high of $4.11 a gallon set in July 2008.

“Gas prices have been relatively flat for the past two weeks, in stark contrast to crude oil, which continues to react to daily developments in the Middle East, North Africa and Japan,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman Ragina C. Averella in a statement.

“Continued volatility has made it difficult to forecast where gas prices will go in the short term, but if the crude oil market is any indication, we’re likely to see gas prices continue the upward trend that began one month ago. Analysts believe gas prices will reach $3.75 a gallon in April, the typical start of the peak driving season.”

According to AAA: “The continued spread of pro-democracy protests across the Middle East and North Africa, together with the unfolding tragedy in Japan, continue to make it difficult to forecast future crude oil and gas prices. 

"Such volatility will undoubtedly lead to daily price movement on both fronts.  If crude oil continues to react to daily market developments as it had in recent weeks, gas prices, while somewhat flat in the past two weeks, will likely continue their upward trend, which began one month ago.”

Here are the cheapest gas prices in the Essex-Middle River area according to MarylandGasPrices.com: