AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- A recent trend of slight decreases at the gas pump is at its end this week, with prices remaining flat or increasing slightly in this week's AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch.
Austin-area drivers are paying, on average, $2.52 a gallon for regular unleaded fuel - the same as last week's survey, and some 97 cents higher than a year ago.
The statewide average saw its first increase in four weeks, rising two cents to $2.59 a gallon. Drivers are paying $1.05 more than a year ago, but the state is still enjoying the second-lowest average in the country. Nationally, drivers are also paying two cents more this week, with the average rising to $2.88.
El Paso and San Antonio continue to see the Lone Star State's extremes, with drivers in the Sun City paying $2.90 and drivers in the Alamo City paying $2.43 a gallon on average.
Analysts say market factors are pointing toward higher prices for the summer driving season. According to the latest industry data, U.S. gasoline demand numbers rose to just greater than 9.1 million barrels per day, which is the highest level since August 2020. Regional fuel supplies fell just slightly, about one percent to almost 82 million barrels, while Gulf Coast refinery utilization increased by around two percent to 88 percent. Crude oil prices have also seen days of rising prices, but the price for crude appears to have settled above $61/barrel for now.
