Low demand and high stock will keep gas from rising much

High travel volumes over the holidays drove gas prices up this week locally and nationally. In the first week of 2018, motorists in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware are seeing pump prices up to three cents higher than one week ago, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic officials. The first two months of the year are typically the times of year that gasoline demand is at its weakest, and with builds in gasoline stock anticipated next week, prices will have a hard time going much higher in the short term.

Today’s national gas price average is $2.49, which unchanged in the last week, up a penny in the last month and 12 cents higher than this time last year.

Delaware’s average price yesterday was $2.44, up from $2.43 last week and $2.28 a year ago.