Pump prices rise in R.I., Mass.

By PBN Staff
Twitter: @ProvBusNews

PROVIDENCE – Gasoline prices in Rhode Island rose 3 cents to $3.55 over the last week, after dropping 2 cents a week ago, AAA Southern New England said Monday.

The cost of self-serve, unleaded regular averaged $3.55 per gallon in the Ocean State – up 3 cents from last week and up 3 cents over the last month – according to the trade group’s weekly survey of Rhode Island’s pump prices.

Rhode Island’s price is 20 cents greater than the $3.35 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 $3.76 per gallon for midgrade to $3.92 for premium unleaded and $4.08 for diesel. A year ago, gas in the Ocean State cost an average $3.58 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

Gas prices in Massachusetts rose 4 cents this week to $3.46 per gallon, 11 cents above the national average, according to AAA.

Bay State gas prices ranged from $3.67 per gallon for midgrade unleaded to $3.81 for premium and $4.03 for diesel.

Pump prices in the Bay State have risen 4 cents over the past month. A year ago at this time, the Massachusetts average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas was $3.48.

The average nationwide cost for self-serve, regular gasoline rose 5 cents this week to $3.35 a gallon, according to the AAA website. Pump prices reached a 2012 high of $3.94 on April 4.