PROVIDENCE – Gasoline prices declined in Rhode Island for the first time in five weeks, AAA Southern New England reported Monday.
The auto club’s Jan. 31 survey found the average price of self-serve, unleaded regular at Ocean State stations was $3.17, down 2 cents from last week.
In Massachusetts, the average price of self-serve, unleaded regular gas was unchanged this week at $3.10 after rising for the previous eight weeks.
According to Bloomberg News, crude oil futures for March delivery rose 13 cents to $89.47 a barrel at 10:26 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil earlier fell as low as $88.40 as concern eased that protests in Egypt would spread to major oil-producing parts of the Middle East.
Rhode Island’s average, at $3.17, was 8 cents above the national average and 45 cents higher than a year ago. Prices ranged from $3.09 to $3.29 in the Ocean State.
At stations in Rhode Island this week, the survey found average self-serve prices of $3.30 per gallon for midgrade unleaded, $3.41 for premium unleaded gasoline and $3.49 for diesel.
This week, the auto club reminded drivers to properly inflate their vehicles’ tires; doing so can improve fuel economy by up to three percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
For more information, visit AAA.com
