Gas prices up for now

Average retail gasoline prices in Tacoma have risen 1.6 cents per gallon in the past week, according to Gasbuddy.com. This compares with a national average that has fallen 0.5 cents per gallon in the past week.

Tacoma fuel prices are 1.2 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 6.3 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. On Monday afternoon, Tacoma’s average price for regular unleaded gasoline was $2.495 a gallon, according to tacomagasprices.com. The lowest price in the Tacoma area Monday according to the website was $2.23 a gallon at the Gig Harbor Costco and the 76 station on Point Fosdick Drive Northwest, also in Gig Harbor. Across the bridge, the lowest price was $2.25 at the Tacoma Costco and the Chevron station on Bridgeport Way Southwest in Lakewood.

In Olympia, the lowest price was $2.21 at the Arco station on Martin Way East near Nisqually Cutoff Road, according to washingtongasprices.com.

According to Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst: “The fundamentals of oil remain weak, which will contribute to low oil prices for some time, while gasoline demand will likely move lower now with the holidays behind us, putting downward pressure on gasoline prices.”

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 5:52 AM with the headline "Gas prices up for now."