Gas Prices Heading Back Up

As if Connecticut didn't get enough bad news recently with word that we have the highest gas prices in the continental U.S., now comes a report that the downward trend of gas prices is coming to an end.

Gas prices nationally have gone back up by nearly a dime in the last two weeks, according to a CNN report. In Connecticut, that trend is apparent as well, with gas prices rising from an average of $3.64 for a gallon of regular a month ago to the current average of $3.81 for a gallon of regular, data from the AAA's fuel gauge report shows.

In the Berlin area, four stations come in at $3.69 a gallon, according to ConnecticutGasPrices.com. Valero and Irving on the Berlin Turnpike, Stop&Shop on the Masserio Drive and Citgo on the Berlin Turnpike are all charging $3.69 per gallon.

Despite months of stability at the pump, the price of crude oil -- which drives the retail cost of gasoline -- shot up about $3 a barrel in the past two weeks, closing Friday at more than $90 barrel, the CNN report says.

In Connecticut, the Bridgeport metropolitan area currently has the highest gas prices, with a gallon of regular selling for about $3.92 on average, AAA reports.

The New Haven-Meriden area is just behind it, with a gallon of regular selling for $3.79 on average. In the New London and Hartford areas gas is selling for an average of $3.78 for a gallon of regular right now.