Rising Gas Prices Break $2 Per Gallon Across Fairfield County

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- Gas prices have risen 4 cents a gallon since last week in Connecticut, where the average prices across the state hit $1.99 a gallon on Monday — and the price already broke the $2 threshold in Fairfield County, according to AAA Northeast.

Gas prices have risen 4 cents in four weeks in Connecticut.
Photo Credit: *Brian Donnelly*

Donna Christopher

03/21/2016 12:11 p.m.

Still, the price is 10 cents less than it was this time last month and 51 cents less than last year's price, said the report.

The prices in Connecticut vary by geography:

In the Bridgeport and Stamford area: $2.07 per gallon
New Haven and Meriden: $1.97
Hartford-area: $1.97
New London and Norwich area: $1.97
Statewide average: $1.99.

Similarly, prices rose nationally with average gas prices reaching $1.98 Monday, 5 cents more than this time the previous week.

Those prices are 21 cents less than they were last month and 44 cents less than a year ago, reported AAA Northeast.

Prices continue to go up due to many refineries conducting spring maintenance to get ready to produce more costly, environmentally sound summer blends.

When refineries are off-line, there’s less gas in the pipeline, the report said.

The lower production and higher crude oil price, which initiates prices at the pump, to about $40 per barrel along with the beginning of the summer drive season result in higher prices at the pump, said AAA Northeast.

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