(June 16, 2015) WASHINGTON — Pump prices have climbed higher during the previous week, even though many market experts continue to believe that gas prices are nearing a seasonal high due to the completion of seasonal refinery maintenance and abundant crude oil supplies.  The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline moved higher each of the past six days reaching Monday's average of $2.80 per gallon, AAA reported today.

Monday's average price represents a new 2015 high, and the national average is five cents more than one week ago and 10 cents more than one month ago.

Gas prices unexpectedly have jumped in many areas over the previous week due to a decline in gasoline stocks caused by high fuel demand and persistent refinery problems, which has limited gasoline production. Despite the rise in pump prices, drivers continue to experience significant year-over-year savings with today’s average price about 86 cents per gallon less than the same date last year.

California ($3.53) is one of four states where motorists are experiencing weekly savings at the pump, yet it remains the nation’s most expensive market for retail gasoline. The Golden State is followed by Alaska ($3.37), Hawaii ($3.34) and Nevada ($3.23). Eight states are posting averages above $3 per gallon.

The West Coast continues be the nation’s most expensive region for gasoline, but is closely followed by the Midwest, where  a drawdown in gasoline stocks and issues at regional refineries have combined to push prices dramatically higher.  Drivers in South Carolina ($2.49) and Mississippi ($2.52) are paying the lowest averages at the pump.

On the whole, pump prices are trending higher week-over-week. Averages have moved higher in 46 states and Washington, D.C. over this same period, and drivers in 19 states and Washington, D.C. are paying a nickel or more per gallon to refuel their vehicles. The largest jumps in price were in the Midwestern states of Indiana (+28 cents), Michigan (+25 cents) and Ohio (+13 cents). The only states with weekly declines include California (-8 cents), Nevada (-3 cents) and Arizona (-2 cents) and New Mexico (fractions of a penny).

Source: AAA