GasBuddy says ‘spring fling’ likely starting

On average, regular up 8.6 cents per gallon to $3.42

Warmer weather means higher gas prices and the upturn that GasBuddy has been warning about since the beginning of the year might finally be underway,

The average price of a gallon of regular in the Philadelphia market increased 8.6 cents in the past week to $3.42 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy, 12.5 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and 6.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

The local upswing mirrored the national average increase: 8.7 cents per gallon in the past week to $3.26 per gallon on Monday, up 16.7 cents per gallon from a month ago and down 11.6 cents per gallon than a year ago, according to GasBuddy.

The national average price of diesel was up 10.0 cents in the past week to $4.09 per gallon on Monday, according to GasBuddy. That big of an increase might well soon be reflected in retail prices.

The $3.42 per gallon in the Philly market is the fourth-highest price for a

Feb. 19 in the past 11 years, behind 2022, 2014 and 2023. The lowest price for a Feb. 19 is an anachronistic $1.93 per gallon in 2016, the lowest for the date by 51 cents per gallon over those 11 years.

Adjoining areas also saw hefty price per gallon increases.

Across the bridges in New Jersey an increase of 10.2 cents per gallon to $3.22 and down the line in Wilmington an increase of 7.9 cents to $3.26 per gallon.

“Roses are red, violets are blue, Valentine’s is over, and gas prices are going anywhere but lower,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “With Valentine’s Day now behind us, we have officially entered the time of year when gas prices traditionally start their spring fling, but we’ve already seen the streak of consecutive increases in the national average hit four weeks. While the early start could also mean an early end, we still have as many as eight weeks that gas prices typically increase, and anything can happen between now and then. One of the most critical elements to how much gas prices will climb is how quickly and effectively refiners can finish their presummer maintenance, start producing EPA-mandated summer gasoline and build up supply of it before Memorial Day.”