Gas prices in the Washington region continue to rise, even as costs for fuel across the country fell for the first time since January, according to a new report.
Since May 18, gas prices went down 7 cents to $3.11, according to the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations across the country.
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The survey attributes the drop to a boost in foreign imports from gas companies hoping to take advantage of high prices.
In the Washington region, however, gas prices continued to climb higher. According to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report, a regular gallon of gas costs $3.08, up 9 cents from last month and up 6 cents from the same time last year.
Analysts said last week that high gas prices are dragging down consumer confidence, which is at its lowest level in 10 years. AAA spokesman Lon Anderson said he expects prices to drop as thesummer continues, which could get more people on the road and restore come faith in the economy.
“We’re expecting the refineries will catch up with summer demand,” he said. “Demand might be off a little bit, and if you have adequate supply and demand falls a little bit … [it’s] another strong downward pressure” on prices.
