Gas Prices Still Rising

Average retail gasoline prices in Yakima have risen 2.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.92/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 91 gas outlets in Yakima. This compares with the national average that has fallen 1 cent per gallon in the past week to $3.63/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Yakima during the past week, prices yesterday were 31.1 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 18 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 14.4 cents per gallon during the past month and stands 3.3 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

"Over the last week, the national average has continued to see a ever so slow downward trend," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "But the downward trend got a shot in the arm last weekend, as we saw the biggest daily drop since April; from July 25 to July 26, the average dropped 1.5 cents. Back on April 13, the US average dropped 1.7 cents from the previous day. Further illustrating the downward trend, five percent of the country was over $4.00/gal Friday. Last week, 7 percent of the country was over $4.00/gal," DeHaan said.