Gas prices on the rise

Published 5:33 pm Monday, November 26, 2012

Average retail gasoline prices in Michigan have risen 5.9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.55 per gallon Sunday. This compares with the national average that has not moved in the past week to $3.43 per gallon, according to gasoline price website MichiganGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Michigan during the past week, prices yesterday were 34.4 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 18.8 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has decreased 14.1 cents per gallon during the past month and stands 11.0 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

“While Thanksgiving 2012 is now behind us, the stigma of record-high gasoline prices is not,” said Patrick DeHaan, a senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com. “Thanksgiving Day 2012 featured the highest-ever daily average for the holiday, beating out 2011 by over 10 cents per gallon. The national average may continue to moderate slightly by Christmas, but I’m not expecting significant decreases or increases in the national average in the short term at this point. There are several factors putting both upward pressure and downward pressure on oil and gasoline, and I expect some fluctuation in prices, but overall, there will likely not be much change between today and Christmas,” DeHaan said.