Gasoline prices in Georgia began to rise after the holidays, according to data from AAA Auto Club South.
The current average price per gallon in Georgia is $2.536, compared with $2.453 a week ago, $2.518 a month ago and $1.519 a year ago.
The national average price of unleaded regular gasoline is $2.66 a gallon -- up a six cents a gallon in the past week.
Demand for heating oil continues to increase amid forecasts for below-normal temperatures in the United States through mid-January and pushed crude oil to its highest price in six weeks. Crude oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange closed the holiday-shortened trading week at $79.36.
“Retail gasoline prices were pushed higher as demand for crude oil increased to produce more heating oil and natural gas,” said Jessica Brady, spokesperson for AAA Auto Club South. “Until this past week, retail gas prices were not directly affected by the rise in crude oil prices which is typically the norm, so it is not surprising to see retail prices increase.”
