Regional pump prices increased for the sixth consecutive week last week, with statewide averages remaining firmly above $3.50 per gallon in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. But a glimmer of encouragement came from the U.S. national average. It remained stable last week, with the coast-to-coast average compiled by AAA showing a negligible, one-hundredth of a cent increase over seven days.
Massachusetts drivers weren't as fortunate. According to AAA, the Bay State average price for unleaded regular gas at self-service pumps reached $3.588 on Wednesday, an increase of close to 3 cents from the prior Wednesday's average of $3.562. Last Wednesday's price was 65 cents higher than the Massachusetts average one year earlier, which was $2.941 per gallon.
In New Hampshire, the average price increased by 2.5 cents over seven days. On Wednesday, the auto club put the Granite State average at $3.545 per gallon, compared to $3.520 reported one week earlier. On the same day last year, New Hampshire's average of $2.903 was 62 cents lower than Wednesday's level.
Despite their increases, the regional averages remained lower than the overall U.S. average, according to AAA. The auto club put the national average price of self-service regular gas at $3.618 on Wednesday. That was nearly identical to the coast-to-coast average reported seven days earlier, which was $3.617 per gallon. Wednesday's national average was 58 cents higher than its level on the same day last year. On May 7, 2007, AAA put the nationwide average just above $3 per gallon, at $3.038.
