Gas prices up on the week, remain down over the year

In Olympia, two Fast Fuel locations, one on Thurston Avenue Northeast and another on Lilly Road the cheapest gasoline at $2.04 a gallon on Monday, according to washingtongasprices.com.

The national average has increased 29.5 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 38.7 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago. Statewide, the average price of $2.28 per gallon was up 4.2 cents over the week.

“The rise in gasoline prices comes as refinery maintenance begins kicking into high gear,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, in a company release. “This year’s jump thus far has seen average prices remain well below year ago levels across much of the nation. As crude oil prices fell gently last week back under $40 per barrel, motorists shouldn’t necessarily expect the worst increases to be over just yet. Until the bulk of refinery maintenance season wraps up in late May, we likely won’t see the lower oil prices immediately bring relief to the pump as oil and gasoline inventories continue to move in the opposite direction.”

This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 3:07 PM with the headline "Gas prices up on the week, remain down over the year."