Average retail gasoline prices in Maine have risen 8.1 cents per gallon in the past week, to an average of $3.61 per gallon. This compares with the national average, which has increased 4.9 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.49 per gallon, according to gasoline price website www.MaineGasPrices.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Maine during the past week, prices yesterday were 19.0 cents per gallon lower than one year ago and are 17.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 2.4 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 20.1 cents per gallon lower than one year ago.

"Gasoline prices continue to rise across much of the nation, which is precisely what we had forecast earlier this year, so it does not come as much of a shock," GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan said. "Either way, I don't expect the national average to break out of its mid-$3-per-gallon rut until mid-to-late September, then we may get some action to the downside.”