Rhode Island’s average gas price is down 1 cent from last week, averaging $3.34

per gallon. Monday’s price is 4 cents lower than a month ago and 98 cents higher than Jan. 24, 2021. Rhode Island’s average gasoline price is 1 cent higher than the national average.

Despite typical low seasonal demand for gasoline, prices at the pump are climbing across the country. The national average for a gallon of gasoline is $3.33, two cents more than a week ago. The culprit is the rise in the price of oil, which is now hovering around $85 a barrel, nearly $20 higher than in November. Last week, OPEC and US energy officials said the COVID-19 Omicron variant is no longer expected to slow the continued recovery in oil demand in 2022. Despite this, OPEC and its allies maintain their projected modest production increases and will not increase dramatically. up the exit. The result will be a continued tight supply of oil.

“As long as the price of oil remains high, consumers will feel it at the pumps,” said Lloyd Albert, senior vice president of public and government affairs for AAA Northeast.

AAA Northeast’s January 24 fuel price survey found the current national average to be 2 cents higher than last week, on average $3.33

a gallon. The national average price today is 5 cents higher than a month ago and 94 cents higher than today last year.