Rhode Island Gas Prices Climb Another 5 Cents

PROVIDENCE, RI — Gas prices are continuing to climb in Rhode Island. Prices continued to climb over the past week, bringing the average up five cents from the week before.

As of Monday, the average price of gas in the state was $2.69, according to AAA Northeast. That's 26 cents higher than this time last month and this time last year.

Rhode Island is still eight cents lower than the national average.

Rising crude oil prices are blamed for the pinch at the pump. Last Friday, oil prices surged to $66 per barrel, the highest amount in about two years.

"With crude oil prices back on the rise, we could see the national average climb towards $2.90 this spring with some relief by early summer," said Lloyd Albert, a spokesperson for AAA Northeast. "The last time we saw the national average flirt with $3 was nearly three years ago in May 2018. At that time, crude was averaging about $71 per barrel."