Gasoline prices nationwide have held at an average of $2.53 a gallon for nine days, according to AAA, which is attributed to increased gasoline production as demand reaches its highest level in a year.
The national average is 13 cents more than one year ago, but 5 cents less than a month ago.
“On the week, the majority of motorists are paying less at the pump,” AAA spokeswoman Jeanette Casselano said. “However, the West Coast, Great Lakes and Central states are mostly seeing a gas price increase.”
The largest change week-to-week is Michigan, which saw prices increase 6 cents, and Kentucky, which saw a 5-cent decrease.
Alabama had the nation’s cheapest gasoline prices at $2.26 a gallon. All but two of the 10 least expensive markets were in the South and Southeast.
In the Great Lakes and Central states, some markets saw increases while others had decreased.
Prices also varied greatly in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states. Tennessee was the nation’s seventh least expensive market at $2.30 a gallon, but most in the region are paying 25 cents or more than a year ago.
Prices in the Rocky Mountain states decreased.
The West Coast was once again the most expensive market with four states averaging more than $3 a gallon.