Drivers see higher gas prices at the pumps

Drivers across the region are seeing an increase in gas prices — an increase that follows the national average.

In the past month, prices in the five county Philadelphia region have gone up several cents per gallon. The increase, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic, is expected to continue over the next few weeks.

“The increases seen across the tri-state region are minimal at the moment,” said Jana L. Tidwell, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “As refineries begin their spring maintenance season in March and switch over to summer-blend gasoline, we should see prices trend higher.”

The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas was $2.32 per gallon on Monday, according to AAA, up 4 cents in the last week and up 8 cents in the last month. The national average price remains below the price one year ago, when it was $2.53 per gallon.

Across the Philadelphia fivecounty region, the average price on Monday was $2.53 per gallon, up 2 cents overnight and up 5 cents in the last week. The average price per gallon across the region remains below the price one year ago, when it was $2.83 per gallon.

By comparison, across Pennsyl-

vania, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas on Monday was $2.55, up 6 cents in the last week.

In New Jersey, the price of a gallon of gas was $2.38 on Monday, while in Delaware, the price was $2.21 per gallon. Those average prices are up in both states over a week ago — up 6 cents in New Jersey and up 8 cents in Delaware.

Following the refinery

maintenance season, gas stations will switch over to summer-blend gasoline, which has a lower RVP to prevent excessive evaporation when outside temperatures rise, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

RVP is an abbreviation for “Reid vapor pressure,” a common measure of gasoline volatility, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA regulates the vapor pressure of gasoline sold at retail stations between June 1 and September 15 to “reduce evaporative emissions

from gasoline that contribute to ground-level ozone and diminish the effects of ozone-related health problems.”

A lower RVP also helps prevent drivability problems such as vapor lock on hot days, especially in older vehicles. However, the summer-blend is also more expensive to produce, and that cost is passed on to the motorist, according to AAA

“Gas prices have advanced to their highest level in nearly two months mainly following as oil prices move higher. Gasoline demand remains

seasonally weak, but last week’s report from the Energy Information Administration showed refinery utilization plunging, meaning less gasoline is flowing out of refiners,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy in an online blog post Monday. “In addition, bullish data and optimism on a U.S.-China trade deal helped propel markets last week, as well as turmoil in Venezuela making a strong case for a larger absence of heavy crudes the market depends on.”

DeHaan added that while

gas prices will be higher in May than they are now, “it is looking more likely that the rise in prices this year may be more muted than we’ve seen in years past when prices launched 3575 cents during the spring.”

In Chester County, the average price per gallon on Monday was $2.51; in Delaware County the average price per gallon was $2.53 and in Montgomery County the average price per gallon was $2.52; and in Berks County, the average price per gallon Monday was $2.52, according

to GasBuddy data.

For more information about AAA visit www.AAA. com.

GasBuddy maintains a database of more than 150,000 gas station convenience stores, including real-time fuel price information, station locations and offerings, along with ratings and reviews. For more information visit www.gasbuddy.com.

DONNA ROVINS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Gasoline prices across the region — and the nation — have been going up over the last month or so as refineries enter their annual maintenance phase.