Gas prices rise 2 cents in R.I., 4 cents in Mass.

By PBN Staff
Twitter: @ProvBusNews

PROVIDENCE – Gasoline prices rose 2 cents in Rhode Island to $3.54 per gallon, the first weekly increase since Oct. 1, AAA Southern New England said Monday.

The cost of self-serve, unleaded regular averaged $3.54 per gallon in the Ocean State – up 2 cents from last week, but down 5 cents over the last month – according to the trade group’s weekly survey of Rhode Island’s pump prices.

Rhode Island’s price is 24 cents greater than the $3.30 national average for a gallon of self-pump, regular unleaded.

AAA recommended drivers shop around for the best deal, as prices ranged 30 cents from $3.46 to $3.76 for a gallon of unleaded regular.

This week, pump prices varied from $3.74 per gallon for midgrade to $3.91 for premium unleaded and $4.09 for diesel. A year ago, gas in the Ocean State cost an average $3.45 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

Gas prices in Massachusetts rose 4 cents this week to $3.46 per gallon of self-serve unleaded, 16 cents above the national average, according to AAA.

Bay State gas prices ranged from $3.68 per gallon for midgrade unleaded to $3.81 for premium and $4.06 for diesel.

Pump prices in the Bay State have dropped 2 cents over the past month. A year ago at this time, the Massachusetts average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas was $3.38.

The average nationwide cost for self-serve, regular gasoline rose 1 cent this week to $3.30 a gallon after jumping 5 cents last week, according to the AAA website. Pump prices reached a 2012 high of $3.94 on April 4.