Nevada gas prices up 17 cents as numbers nearly steady nationwide

By Kyle B. Hansen

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011 | 5:48 p.m.

One month ago, Nevada had the seventh-lowest average gas price in the nation. Today, it has the 10th highest in the lower 48 states.

The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the Silver State rose 17 cents in the past month, to $3.64 per gallon.

But prices nationally saw much less movement. The national average dropped 1 cent this month, also to $3.64, the auto club said.

This month’s price increase in Nevada was the first since prices began falling in June at the end of a nine-month streak of rising prices. The average fell again in July, but stayed the same in August before rising this month.

Despite the summer drop in prices, they remain well above where they were a year ago. The average in Nevada is up 88 cents from a year ago, when it was $2.83. The national average is up 93 cents from last year, when it was $2.71, according to AAA.

While gas prices in Northern Nevada remain higher than those in the south, this month’s change was more pronounced in the Las Vegas area.

Average prices rose 20 cents in all three major cities in Southern Nevada. Las Vegas and North Las Vegas both have averages of $3.66, while Henderson’s average is $3.68.

The average rose 14 cents in Reno, to $3.81; 13 cents in Sparks, to $3.83; 11 cents in Carson City, to $3.72; and 5 cents in Elko, to $3.85.

AAA said the price changes are the result of worldwide economic uncertainty, a weak U.S. dollar and East Coast weather.

“Although demand for gasoline has fallen over the past week, which would typically help keep prices down, storms in the Gulf and East Coasts have applied upward pressure on gasoline prices in several parts of the country,” said AAA spokesman Matt Skryja.

California has the highest average price in the continental United States at $3.95 per gallon. Alaska’s average is $3.97 while Hawaii’s average is $4.18. South Carolina’s average price is $3.40 per gallon, the lowest in the nation.