PORTLAND, Maine — The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Maine jumped 10 cents in the past week as prices likely begin to turn around from the lowest levels of the year.
The statewide average price hit $1.90 at the end of last week, a level still about 57 cents lower than a year ago and forecast to lead into the lowest summer prices in a decade, according to the gas price tracking website GasBuddy.
“The cheapest gas prices of the year are now solidly behind us as the national average will soon again hit $2,” Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, said in a news release.
DeHaan said that though crude oil prices rose sharply in the past week, record high U.S. oil inventories will slow price increases at the pump. He said he expects prices will continue to rise for about a month before leveling out.
Maine’s increase came as the national average price rose 12 cents to $1.93 per gallon.
The average at the end of the week in Vermont was $1.92 and in New Hampshire was $1.80.