WASHINGTON — National gas prices are slowly on the rise, according to AAA. The organization says that the national average for a regular gallon of gas is $1.83, five cents higher than a week ago. Gas prices bottomed out at $1.77 in late April.
The rise in costs comes as the demand for gasoline increases. Currently, only 22 states remain under a stay-at-home order with four of those states planning to reopen by the end of the month. Researchers from the University of Maryland have also attributed the increased mobility of people to warmer weather, protests, economic realities and the growing frustration with the restrictions.
Since last week, demand increased by 800,000 barrels per day to 6.7 million b/d. However, the demand is still 3.2 million b/d less than one year ago.
According to oil analyst Patrick De Haan, gas demand is up over 6% since last week. The demand is also up nearly 12% from the lowest Thursday of March 26.
Even as the price of gas rises, it is still eight cents lower than it was a month ago and over a dollar less than it was a year ago.
Since last Thursday, several Midwestern states have seen the largest increases in gas price averages including Wisconsin (+33 cents), Ohio (+26 cents), Michigan (+25 cents) and Indiana (+22 cents).
