Spring is just ahead, and summer driving is not far behind so motorists are paying attention to gas prices. Average gas prices across West Alabama, the state and the nation have been rising steadily for several weeks and according to AAA expect the increases to continue. Higher oil prices and the seasonal refinery switch from winter to summer blends are partially blamed for the hikes. The seasonal change could bump up prices by another 15-cents per gallon.

The current national average price at the pump jumped 3 cents a gallon in the last 24-hours to $3.43 a gallon. That is 16-cents per gallon more than just a month ago.

In Alabama the price has jumped just more than 12-cents a gallon in the last month to $3.15 a gallon. That is also 4-cents a gallon more than a year ago.

Here in West Alabama Tuscaloosa County has the lowest per gallon average cost at $3.12 a gallon, up 11-cents from February.

The highest gas price in West Alabama resides in Fayette County where drivers are shelling out $3.35 per gallon. That comes from a 12-cents per gallon jump over last month.


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With the cost of oil crossing the $80 per barrel mark and gas demand jumping up with warmer temperatures and better driving conditions, more change may be coming at the pump.

For those planning to travel, Triple A also reports the ten most expensive gasoline markets are in California, Hawaii, Washington, Nevada, Oregon, Alaska, Illinois, Arizona, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.

Prices for the remainder of the year depend on several factors according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Geopolitics, significant weather events, driver demand, potential computer hacker attacks like in 2021 and increasing refinery output all come into play to impact gas prices.

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