Gas prices edge up in Bradenton-Sarasota area

Average retail gasoline prices in the Bradenton-Sarasota area have risen 0.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.14 a gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 308 area gas outlets. This compares with the national average that has increased 6.1 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.28 a gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Prices are 49.9 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago, and are 11.8 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 15.1 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 46.1 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

The average price in Florida jumped to $2.20 a gallon, up 2.4 cents per gallon from last week's $2.18 a gallon.

"With crude oil prices rallying over the past six weeks, reaching the highest point that we've seen since November before Friday's close, we should expect wholesale and retail gasoline prices to rise further," says Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. "The good news for consumers is that even with the recent increases in the price at the pump, on average we're still paying about 45 cents less per gallon this year versus last.”

This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 9:41 AM with the headline "Gas prices edge up in Bradenton-Sarasota area."