MAINE, USA — Maine has set a new record high for the price of a gallon of gas in the state. According to AAA, the average cost per gallon has risen to $4.61. Maine's average price is now higher than the national average, which is $4.52 for a gallon of gas.
"There are a lot of factors contributing to the rise in prices at the pump. There's the Russia/Ukraine issue, and there's a supply and demand issue as well," AAA Northern New England public affairs manager Dan Goodman said.
Goodman added, "A lot of refineries closed at the early parts of the pandemic, and a lot of them haven't started back up again, so we're not producing the amount of oil to meet the demand."
The price of gas in Maine has risen sharply in recent weeks. According to data from AAA, just yesterday, the average price per gallon was $4.58, which is $.03 cheaper than the new record.
Just two weeks ago, gas cost on average $4.40, and one month ago, it was $4.07. This time last year, the average cost per gallon in Maine was $2.98.
The cost of diesel is also increasing in Maine. The price per gallon of diesel also set a record, coming at $6.37.
Experts with AAA recommend things like consolidating trips and running multiple errands at once as a way to increase gas mileage and make fewer stops to fill up.
Leaders with AAA also recommend avoiding hard breaks and rapid acceleration as a way to improve gas mileage.