Local Gas Buyers Still Pinched Harder At Pumps



Tennessee, March 19 - Average retail gasoline prices in Tennessee have risen 4.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.64/g Sunday.

This compares with the national average that has increased 4.3 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.80/g, according to gasoline price website TennesseeGasPrices.com.

A check of five local retail outlets along Main St. in Woodbury this morning found the price of regular to be $3.79.9 at four and $3.77.9 at one.

Local retailers attribute the 15-cent difference in the state average to higher delivery charges imposed by their suppliers. They estimate they are making about five cents per gallon.

Including the change in gas prices in Tennessee during the past week, prices yesterday were 25.4 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 15.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. 

The national average has increased 28.6 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 27.9 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

"Average retail gasoline prices will likely rise this week, after a surge in wholesale prices late last week," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. 

"Some analysts believe gasoline prices may have peaked, but I am not at all confident in such words. I still maintain that prices will likely not peak until we get closer to the month of May, as a majority of locales around the United States make eventual switch overs to summer spec gasoline," DeHaan said.