AAA: Seasonal rise in gas prices is primed to begin

The national average price for a gallon of fuel was $3.27 on Tuesday morning and according to the AAA, prices are primed to continue their seasonal rise as spring nears on the horizon.

News that the large BP-Whiting refinery in Indiana, offline since early February due to power issues, is reopening soon may have contributed to easing pump price nerves.

The refinery processes nearly 440,000 barrels of crude daily, and the shutdown caused gasoline prices throughout the Midwest to rise.

“Old man winter is shuffling toward the exit, and with milder weather and longer days looming, the seasonal rise in gas prices is primed to begin,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “But it will probably be a slow, wobbly start to rising prices.”

A month ago now, national pump prices were a little cheaper, with an average of $3.10. Last-year at this time, national average prices were just a touch higher at $3.36.

Meanwhile, the average New York State price for a gallon of gas Tuesday morning was $3.30, only 4-cents higher than a month ago now and cheaper than a $3.44 average last-year.

According to GasBuddy, fuel prices in Lowville ranged as low as $3.39 Tuesday in the Lowville, NY area and $3.43 in Boonville, NY.

In comparison, GasBuddy reported gas prices Tuesday morning as low as $3.13 in Watertown, NY and as low as $2.99 in Syracuse, NY.

Meanwhile, pump prices in the Mohawk Valley region are ranging as low as $3.33 in Rome, NY and as low as $3.25 in Utica, NY, all according to GasBuddy.

AAA images.