Gas prices climb 3 cents on average over past week

Average retail gasoline prices in Nebraska have risen 3 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.46 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 1,150 gas outlets in Nebraska. This compares with the national average that has increased 8.5 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.62 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Nebraska during the past week, prices Sunday were $1.05 per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 9.4 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 22.7 cents per gallon during the last month and stands $1.05 per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

“Gasoline prices continue to be tugged upward by previous increases in crude oil prices,” said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst. “The national average stands at its highest in nearly five months and has risen 20 days straight. West Coast refinery issues have continued to weigh on West Coast gasoline prices, which have easily risen the fastest in the nation for a second consecutive week, though the increase in prices will be scaled back considerably this week.”

GasBuddy data shows that over the past month, the percent of gas stations selling under $2.50 per gallon has dwindled from 77 percent to 54 percent, though motorists are still saving over $400 million a day versus what they were paying last year.

Comparisons show nearly a dozen states that saw a double digit gain in average gasoline prices over the last week, led by California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon and Delaware. On the other end of the spectrum, all but nine states are seeing their current gasoline prices over $1 per gallon lower than a year ago. The nine states who aren’t seeing as big of a gap versus prices a year ago: California, Nevada, Utah, Alaska, Idaho, Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico and Washington.