Drivers see gas prices rising

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-

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.