This story will be updated.
The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Maine rose 11 cents overnight and 24 cents in the past week and heating oil was up 11 cents per gallon since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Since mid-January, Russia’s threat of invading Ukraine has contributed to higher and more volatile crude oil prices, as Russia is the third-largest petroleum producer in the world. Stronger petroleum demand as the COVID-19 pandemic has started to ease and slower crude oil production have also pushed up global crude oil prices, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Maine’s average price at $3.82 per gallon of regular gas for vehicles is slightly below the national average of $3.84 per gallon, according to AAA. One gallon of premium gasoline is $4.31 and diesel is $4.41 in Maine. One year ago the average price per gallon for regular gas was $2.70.
San Francisco has the dubious distinction of having the highest average price per gallon at $5.00.
Maine prices are the highest in Aroostook, Waldo, Knox and Sagadahoc counties at $3.89 per gallon of regular. The least expensive counties at $3.76 per gallon are Oxford, Piscataquis, Hancock and Washington.
Prices in Bangor rose 23 cents per gallon of regular over the past week to $3.80, while those in Portland rose 26 cents per gallon to $3.85 and those in Lewiston-Auburn were up 19 cents per gallon to $3.78. GasBuddy lists the lowest price at $3.34 per gallon at a gas station in Scarborough.
Heating oil prices rose after the war broke out on Feb. 24 to $3.86 per gallon statewide on Feb. 28, up from $3.75 on Feb. 22, according to the Governor’s Energy Office. Heating oil sold in the range of $3.16 to $4.18.
Kerosene prices rose 10 cents per gallon during that week to $4.42, while propane prices were down 5 cents per gallon to $3.34.