August 27th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

Motorists in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast have seen gas prices move higher over the past week. This has been most evident in the Mid-Atlantic region, where Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia have all have jumped at least eight cents in the last week. The national average price for regular unleaded is $2.21 per gallon, which is seven cents more than one week ago, six cents more than a month ago, but 35 cents less than the same date last year. Maryland’s average jumped even more than the national average. Today’s Maryland average stands at $2.20 per gallon, which is twelve cents more than one week ago and six cents more than a month ago. Despite recent increases, the state’s average remains 23 cents less than a year ago.

Pump prices have been driven by crude oil prices surging this month while refinery issues have exacerbated price increases in areas supplied by these facilities. This includes a number of refineries in the Gulf Coast that are undergoing unplanned maintenance as a result of flooding in Louisiana and a refinery fire in Texas. 

 

CURRENT AND PAST GAS PRICE AVERAGES 
Regular Unleaded Gasoline (*indicates record high)

	8/26/16	Week Ago	Month Ago	Year Ago
National	$2.21	$2.14	$2.15	$2.56
Maryland	$2.20	$2.08	$2.14	$2.46
Baltimore	$2.20	$2.05	$2.11	$2.43
Cumberland	$2.19	$2.18	$2.32	$2.47
Hagerstown	$2.16	$2.14	$2.20	$2.56
Salisbury	$2.12	$1.95	$1.95	$2.29
Washington Suburbs (MD only)	$2.22	$2.13	$2.21	$2.52
Crude Oil	$47.33 per barrel  at Thursday’s close, 8/25/16	$48.22 per barrel (Thursday, 8/18/16 )	$43.13 per barrel  (7/25/16)	$39.31 per barrel (8/25/16)