ATLANTA — Gas prices are increasing in metro Atlanta and across Georgia, according to two national services that keep track of prices.
The American Automobile Association says prices across the state are up an average of three cents as compared to a week ago and up 13 cents since this time last month. In comparison, GasBuddy's daily survey of stations across metro Atlanta shows a 9.1 cent per gallon increase in the metro area over the past week.
“Gasoline prices nationwide continue to rise,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman for AAA - The Auto Club Group. “The market price for crude and gasoline are major factors as well as local supply and demand.”
The average price in metro Atlanta for unleaded gas is at $2.79 per gallon. The statewide average is at $2.88 per gallon according to both GasBuddy and AAA.
The least expensive price for regular gas in metro Atlanta, according to the GasBuddy survey, is at $2.44 per gallon, while the most expensive price for a gallon of regular gas is at $3.19.
Statewide, according to AAA, you can find the least expensive gas in the Albany, Columbus and Warner Robins areas, where regular gas averages at about $2.59 to $2.61 per gallon. The most expensive, not surprisingly, is in metro Atlanta, along with the Athens and Gainesville areas, where prices average from $2.75 to $2.79 per gallon.
The Georgia average is still below the national average regular gas price of $2.88 per gallon.
In its weekly petroleum report, the Energy Information Administration says that while demand decreased slightly overall, the current rate of demand is somewhat higher than it was at this time a year ago.
According to AAA, two other contributing factors to the slightly higher prices are the annual switchover to produce more expensive summer-blend gasoline and reduced gasoline production as a result of maintenance at refineries across the country.
As a result of these factors, AAA says, motorists should expect increased pump prices as demand remains robust and stocks dwindle.
GasBuddy says that while the average prices are up slightly in metro Atlanta, the same trend exists in neighboring areas: average prices are up a penny over the past week in the Chattanooga area to $2.51 per gallon. In the Macon area, prices are also up slightly, to an average of $2.62 per gallon.
RELATED | Check latest metro Atlanta gas prices
"Peak prices are likely starting to enter into view for over the next few weeks for some states- mainly in the West Coast- while the national average will likely peak somewhere between 2-5 weeks from now before falling," said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "Perhaps the best news for motorists is they may catch a break in June as prices moderate slightly as refiners finish maintenance and boost production."
For a map the latest gas prices in and around metro Atlanta, please check the 11Alive Gas Prices page at 11Alive.com/gasprices.