Gas price surge higher in Mass. than R.I.

PROVIDENCE – Gasoline prices in Rhode Island surged 8 cents but Massachusetts was hit harder this week, with an average price hike of 16 cents.
AAA Southern New England said in its April 25 survey that the average price of self-serve, unleaded regular at Ocean State stations was $3.92, up 8 cents from last week and 19 cents from two weeks ago. Prices ranged from $3.72 to $3.99; a year ago, local prices averaged $2.87.
In Massachusetts, the average price jumped 16 cents to $3.82. Nationally, prices averaged $3.86.
According to Bloomberg News, gasoline for May delivery gained 0.85 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.3171 a gallon on the New York Mercantile Exchange on Monday morning. Prices earlier touched $3.3416, the highest intraday price for the front-month contract since July 16, 2008.
At stations in Rhode Island this week, the survey found average self-serve prices of $4.04 per gallon for midgrade unleaded, $4.15 for premium unleaded gasoline and $4.19 for diesel.