Survey: U.S. gas prices climb 3 cents

By the Associated Press - 01/23/2006

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — Retail gas prices across the country jumped another 3 cents, following a 9-cent hike reported earlier this month, according to a survey released Sunday.

The weighted average price for all three grades climbed to $2.36 a gallon by Friday, said Trilby Lundberg, who publishes the semimonthly Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations around the country.

Self-serve regular averaged $2.33 a gallon nationwide. Mid-grade cost $2.43 a gallon while the price for premium was $2.53.

Prices at the pump have increased nearly 20 cents since Dec. 2, 2005, Lundberg said. Gas prices are 45 cents higher than they were last year, she added. Last week, crude futures climbed again on international tensions about Iran’s nuclear plans and violence aimed at foreign oil producers in Nigeria.

Among stations surveyed, the lowest average price in the country for regular unleaded was in Portland, Ore., at $2.10 per gallon. The priciest was $2.80 a gallon in Honolulu.

t On the Net: Lundberg Survey: http://www.lundbergsurvey.com.