Average retail gasoline prices in Seattle area have risen 18.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.87/gallon yesterday. This compares with the national average that has increased 5.4 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.67/gallon according to gasoline price website SeattleGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Seattle during the past week, prices yesterday were 10.4 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 30.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 24.8 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 5.7 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

"The national average has spiked 25-cents per gallon just in the last month, thanks to an onslaught of refinery problems- mainly in the Great Lakes and California," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "While these situations are temporary in nature, it goes to show this nations dependence on domestic refineries. While oil prices have gained in recent days, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for motorists: driving season will be over in less than a month and soon thereafter the EPA also relaxes gasoline mandates, meaning cheaper winter fuel," DeHaan said.

About SeattleGasPrices.com

GasBuddy operates SeattleGasPrices.com and over 250 similar websites that track gasoline prices at over 140,000 gasoline stations in the United States and Canada. In addition, GasBuddy offers a free smartphone app which has been downloaded over 20 million times to help motorists find gasoline prices in their area.

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