Gas prices down this week, says AAA

Gasoline prices in Rhode Island are down three cents this week, according to AAA Northeast.

AAA Northeast’s March 12 survey of prices in Rhode Island finds self-serve, regular unleaded averaging $2.53 per gallon. Rhode Island’s price is the same as the national average. A year ago at this time, the average price in Rhode Island was 31 cents lower at $2.22 per gallon.

“The majority of motorists in the country are paying less at the pump than they did a week ago,” said Lloyd Albert, AAA Northeast Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs. “Factors contributing to lower prices locally include increased gasoline production that has kept pace with higher than usual demand this winter.”

The range in prices in the latest AAA survey for unleaded regular is 40 cents, from a low of $2.39 to a high of $2.79.