AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Gas prices across the state are continuing to rise, with Texas drivers paying more on average this week than a year ago for the first time in nearly a year according to AAA Texas.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel in the Austin-San Marcos metro area is $2.13 this week, up three cents from last week and just one cent cheaper than this time a year ago.
Across the state, drivers are paying an average of $2.16 a gallon - up three cents from last week, and also three cents higher than this time a year ago. Texas continues to see some of the lowest gas prices in the country, ranking third this week.
It's the first time in 342 days that the statewide average is higher than a year ago, according to AAA Texas. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the average gas price across the state swung as much as $1.12 cheaper than year-over-year prices.
Abilene has the state's highest average this week at $2.36 a gallon, while drivers in Sherman-Denison continue to see the state's lowest prices at an average of $2.05 a gallon.
Nationally, drivers are paying an average of $2.44 a gallon, up two cents this week and 2 cents cheaper than a year ago.
Market analysts say the rise in gas prices continues to be the result of increasing crude oil prices. "Typically, this time of the year, gas prices trend downward," AAA Texas spokesman Daniel Armbruster said. "That is not the case this year as crude oil continues to price at levels not seen since mid-February 2020."
Crude has been trading at higher prices due to optimism about COVID-19 vaccines renewing demand later this year, along with oil production cuts promised by members of the Organization for the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+).
