AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Prices at Austin-area gas pumps continue to rise, with drivers seeing an increase of 20 cents in the past week according to AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel across the Austin-San Marcos metro area is $4.29 Friday morning, up 21 cents from last week when drivers were paying $4.08 a gallon. The average is $1.59 higher than a year ago, when drivers were paying $2.70 a gallon.
Similar increases continue to be seen on the state and national levels. Across Texas, drivers are paying an average of $4.29 a gallon, while the nationwide average has reached $4.59 a gallon.
Diesel prices are also continuing to rise, though with some fluctuations. In Austin, diesel is going for an average of $5.26 as of Friday morning, down slightly from a record high of $5.31 on May 10.
Of the major metropolitan areas surveyed in Texas, drivers in the Fort Worth-Arlington and Dallas areas are paying the most on average at $4.40 per gallon while drivers in Amarillo are paying the least at $4.01 per gallon.
The statewide gas price average continues to hit record highs as crude oil inched up to $115 a barrel earlier this week. U.S. demand increased week-to-week while regional supplies dipped. The all-time high prices come as 3.2 million Texans plan to travel over the Memorial Day Weekend, according to AAA Texas data.
"It's been another record-breaking week at the gas pump, with no immediate relief in sight for drivers," said AAA Texas spokesperson Daniel Armbruster. "However, higher gas prices have historically not deterred people from traveling; rather, some may modify their plans such as eating out fewer times or choosing less expensive activities as well as accommodations."
