The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Worcester County jumped by 18 cents since April 15, mirroring a significant jump in the statewide average.
In Worcester County, the current average gas price is a cent higher than the state’s average at $3.57 per gallon, representing a one-week, 18-cent increase from April 15 and an almost 30-cent increase from March 22 at $3.27 per gallon, according to the travel association AAA Northeast.
Worcester County prices are up 10 cents from the $3.47 average of a year ago.
The average Massachusetts per gallon gasoline price jumped 19 cents in the last week, as Monday’s average price was $3.56. The rise in the statewide average came from April 15’s price of $3.37 per gallon, according to a Monday press release from travel association AAA Northeast.
Monday’s statewide average is 27 cents higher than the average from March 22 of $3.29, but 8 cents higher than this same day last year.
Though the Massachusetts average gas prices have increased, the Monday survey by AAA Northeast shows it’s 11 cents lower than Monday’s national average of $3.67 a gallon. Monday’s national average is the same as this day last year, but 14 cents higher than the $3.53 per gallon price of a month ago on March 22.
“Drivers might be seeing red at the gas pump this week, but there are signs that the pace of price increases could ease,” Mark Schieldrop, senior spokesperson for AAA Northeast, said in the release.
AAA Northeast credits lessening gasoline demand, reducing oil prices, and expanding oil and gas inventories for residents seeing a potential decrease in gas prices.
“It’s not unusual to see a lull in demand between the end of spring breaks and Memorial Day. Regional gasoline inventories are ahead of last year’s levels – and growing,” said Schieldrop. “And oil prices, which had been climbing since the start of the year, fell sharply last week after markets digested the latest developments in the Middle East and lackluster demand figures from China, the world’s largest oil importer.”
