Gas prices continue to rise in R.I., Mass.

By PBN Staff
Twitter: @ProvBusNews

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s gasoline prices continued to rise this week, jumping 5 cents to $3.80 per gallon in the fourth consecutive week of price increases, AAA Southern New England said Monday.

The cost of self-serve, unleaded regular averaged $3.80 per gallon in the Ocean State – up 5 cents from last week and up 28 cents over the last month – according to the trade group’s weekly survey of Rhode Island’s pump prices.

Rhode Island’s price is 6 cents greater than the $3.74 national average for a gallon of self-pump, regular unleaded.

AAA recommended drivers shop around for the best deal, as prices ranged 26 cents, from $3.66 to $3.91 for a gallon of unleaded regular.

This week, pump prices varied from $3.91 per gallon for midgrade to $4.05 for premium unleaded and $4.14 for diesel. A year ago, gas in the Ocean State cost an average $3.69 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

Gas prices in Massachusetts rose 4 cents this week to $3.73 per gallon, 1 cent below the national average of $3.74 per gallon, according to AAA.

Bay State gas prices ranged from $3.89 per gallon for midgrade unleaded to $4.01 for premium and $4.18 for diesel. A year ago at this time, the Massachusetts average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas was $3.61.

The average nationwide cost for self-serve, regular gasoline surged 14 cents this week to $3.74 a gallon, according to the AAA website. Pump prices reached their highest recorded average price on July 17, 2008, at $4.11 per gallon.