AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Prices at the pump continue to rise, reaching their highest point in nearly two years, according to AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in the Austin-San Marcos metro area is $2.52 this week, up eight cents from last week and 50 cents higher than a year ago.
Across the state, drivers are paying an average of 10 cents more this week at $2.57 a gallon, while drivers across the country are paying an average of $2.83 a gallon, up nine cents from last week.
Despite the increase at the pump, Texas drivers are paying the third-lowest average in the country.
Drivers in Midland are seeing the state's highest prices on average, at $2.86 a gallon, while drivers in the Sherman-Denison area are paying the least at $2.47 per gallon.
Crude oil prices keep climbing due to a surprise decision by OPEC+ to essentially keep current production cuts in place through April, analysts say. The last time the statewide average was at this price was around Memorial Day 2019.
Refinery utilization in the U.S. is at 61 percent in the Gulf Region, which is likely also contributing to the continued rise in gas prices. That's up from 41 percent last week.
"Gas prices are expected to keep rising in the coming days as crude oil prices climb," AAA Texas' Daniel Armbruster said. "As a result, Texans are paying the highest gas prices in almost two years."
