Gas prices keep rising - and more's on the way

MANATEE -- Average retail gasoline prices in the Bradenton-Sarasota area have risen 16 cents a gallon in the past week, averaging $2.18 a gallon today, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 308 area gas outlets. This compares with the national average that has increased 8.1 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.22 a gallon.

Prices are 38.2 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 14.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 15.9 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 39.3 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on May 2 in Bradenton-Sarasota have ranged widely over the last five years:

$2.56 a gallon in 2015, $3.77 a gallon in 2014, $3.42 a gallon in 2013, $3.78 a gallon in 2012 and $3.89 a gallon in 2011.

Statewide, gas prices are an average $2.20 a gallon, up 13.8 cents per gallon from last week's $2.07 a gallon.

"Gasoline prices in all 50 states saw a rise over the last week -- an average of over 8 cents," said Patrick DeHaan, a Chicago-based senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. "While we may not see as such a sharp rise this week, we aren't out of the woods just yet. Gasoline prices may continue inching up until Memorial Day.

"Americans appear ripe to consume near record levels of gasoline, if not the highest levels ever this summer with some of the lowest summer prices seen in 10 years or so," he added.

This story was originally published May 2, 2016 at 10:56 PM with the headline "Gas prices keep rising - and more's on the way ."