Susquehanna Valley gas prices rose almost two cents to $3.50 a gallon this week, according to AAA East Central.
On the national front
Tuesday's national average price at the pump is $3.28 per gallon. This is the same price as last week, three cents less than one month ago and seven cents less than the same date last year.
Crude oil prices have been relatively flat to begin in the year, and as a result gasoline prices have been largely left to take direction from regional and local factors. This has resulted in prices, particularly in the center of the country, that have been influenced by extremely cold weather. Frigid temperatures can cause refinery issues that pressure prices higher, but can also decrease demand for gasoline, as motorists limit driving, which puts downward pressure on prices.
At the close of formal trading on the NYMEX Monday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) settled at $95.72 per barrel.
(AAA East Central - a not-for-profit association with 82 local offices in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, New York and Kentucky servicing 2.7 million members - provides Fuel Gauge each week.)
This week's Susquehanna Valley average price - $3.500
Average price during the week of Jan. 21 - $3.485
Average price during the week of Jan. 29, 2013 - $3.571
Average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline locally:
Lewisburg - $3.402
Mifflinburg - $3.520
Milton - $3.443
Selinsgrove - $3.553
Shamokin - $3.523
Sunbury - $3.559