Gas prices continue to rise

Average retail gasoline prices in Nebraska have risen 4.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.07 per gallon yesterday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 1,150 gas outlets in Nebraska. This compares with the national average that has increased 4.9 cents per gallon in the last week to $1.98 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Nebraska during the past week, prices yesterday were 33.2 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 39.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 27.4 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 44.0 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on March 21 in Nebraska have ranged widely over the last five years:

$2.40 per gallon in 2015, $3.47 per gallon in 2014, $3.63 per gallon in 2013, $3.88 per gallon in 2012 and $3.56 per gallon in 2011.

Areas nearby Nebraska and their current gas price climate:

Lincoln- $2.15 per gallon, up 8.1 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.07 per gallon.

South Dakota- $1.97 per gallon, up 4.2 cents per gallon from last week’s $1.93 per gallon.

Omaha- $2.01 per gallon, up 5.1 cents per gallon from last week’s $1.96 per gallon.

“With the U.S. average price of gas closing in on the $2 level, a price not seen since late December, it reflects a real paradox; we see simultaneously both a stark increase --25 cents per gal. in the past few weeks-- and a reminder of how much we’re still saving,” said Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst with GasBuddy. “Even with the anticipated rise in retail prices to accommodate ‘summer blend’ gasoline regulations, and even with a 54% increase in crude oil from $26 to $40 for the benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the national average price of gas today remains some 45 cents lower than where we were exactly one year ago.”

For live fuel price averages, visit http://media.gasbuddy.com.