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Despite recent drop, gas prices on the rise
gas
Gas prices are on the rise as evidenced by the Arco station at the intersection of Olive Avenue and Golden State Boulevard where prices are on the uptick as compared with the roughly $2 per gallon for unleaded gasoline in recent weeks.

Locals were rushing to the pumps in late January when gas prices began to dwindle to less than two dollars, but now the value of gas is once again on the uptick evident by the 16.5 cents per gallon average increase in Modesto area pumps according to GasBuddy.

 

GasBuddy was founded in 2000 and is a common phone application that allows users access to real-time, local gas prices in their area.

 

The national average for gas has increased by 7.6 cents in the past week ringing in at $2.25 per gallon which is 37 cents less than the Modesto average of $2.62 based on a survey of 201 local stations performed by GasBuddy.

 

“Prices at the pump are starting to heat back up, mostly driven by a rebound in crude oil prices," said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst with GasBuddy. "Nationally, almost 9 in 10 stations is selling over $2 per gallon, while a month ago, less than half of stations were selling over that price. Clearly we're seeing the typical seasonal rebound in prices, being led higher by oil's rebound, and soon to be enhanced further by refinery maintenance season, which hasn't yet gotten well underway.”

 

Across the nation the states with the largest increases in the past week included California, Arizona, Oregon, Florida, and Washington, all with increases over 10 cents per gallon. However, California seems to be leading the charge with the most expensive gas as the state’s cities took all 25 spots of the top 25 most expensive communities, excluding Hawaii and Alaska.

 

Compared with last year, prices were 90 cents lower per gallon on Feb. 16, 2014, in Modesto and are also 26.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. Change has also transpired as the national average is 110.2 cents per gallon lower than it was a year ago, but has increased 17.5 cents per gallon in the last month.

 

“I'm also starting to hear more frustration from motorists about rising prices- and while the concerns are well rooted, they should take solace that gas prices this summer are still expected to be some $1 per gallon lower than last summer," said DeHaan.