Just a few months after gas prices in Arkansas dropped below $3 a gallon, they’re back on the rise.
Regular unleaded gasoline reached a state average of $3.23 per gallon as of Tuesday, up six cents since last week.
“We’ve seen crude oil prices ratchet up in recent days and that’s driven up wholesale gasoline prices,” said Mike Right of Triple-A Auto Club, “and it’s not unusual to see that prices rise this time of year. In fact, last year at this time we were paying $3.64 a gallon.”
Right says the recent spike was likely due to gasoline companies preparing to make the switch from winter to summer fuel. Summer fuel blends cost more to produce.
Still, Arkansas is well below the national average of $3.43 per gallon. Overall, Right says gas prices are expected to be cheaper this year than in 2013.