AAA: Gas prices rise 7 cents in R.I., Mass.

GASOLINE PRICES rose for the third consecutive week in a row in Rhode Island and Massachusetts this week, according to AAA Northeast. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/DAVID PAUL MORRIS
GASOLINE PRICES rose for the third consecutive week in a row in Rhode Island and Massachusetts this week, according to AAA Northeast. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/DAVID PAUL MORRIS

PROVIDENCE – Gasoline prices rose 7 cents in Rhode Island and Massachusetts compared with last week, to $1.93 and $1.87, respectively, for self-serve, regular unleaded, AAA Northeast said Monday.
Despite the third consecutive week of increases, AAA said motorists are still paying much less than they did a year ago when prices for regular unleaded were $2.41 in Rhode Island and $2.33 in Massachusetts.
In Rhode Island, prices have risen 18 cents over the past three weeks. Rhode Island’s price is 6 cents below the national average for regular unleaded of $1.99.
“The price of oil has been flirting with $40 per barrel, and last week was the fifth straight week of oil price increases,” Lloyd P. Albert, AAA senior vice president of public and government affairs, said in a statement. “Prices typically move higher at this time of year as gasoline demand begins to increase and refineries conduct seasonal maintenance. Those factors, along with oil price increases, are driving this latest round of higher pump prices.”
Prices in the Ocean State range from $1.79 to $1.98, with $2.25 for midgrade unleaded; $2.37 for premium unleaded; and $2.13 for diesel.
In Massachusetts, prices have climbed 16 cents in the last two weeks. The Massachusetts price is 12 cents below the national average.
In the Bay State, prices range from $1.73 to $2.09, with midgrade unleaded at $2.12; premium unleaded at $2.33; and diesel, $2.12.

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