Louisiana gas prices inch upward

Filling up more and enjoying it less?
Average retail gasoline prices rose 4 cents per gallon last week in Louisiana, more than the 2.5 cent increase experienced nationally, according to gas price website GasBuddy.
Even so, gasoline prices here remain lower than the national average. The average gallon of gas sold Sunday in Louisiana was $2.24, GasBuddy said Monday. The national average was $2.46.
The national average has increased 28.4 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 103.4 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.
Including the change in gas prices in Louisiana during the past week, prices Sunday were 98.0 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 23.0 cents per gallon higher than a month ago, GasBuddy said.
“Drivers are finally getting a break from the big rise in gasoline prices,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst with GasBuddy, in a press release. “Gas prices have finally started to cool off after coming into March like a lion. We can only hope they go out like a lamb.”
According to DeHaan, expect that the national average will continue to cool off in the week ahead, led lower by relief hitting pumps in the West.
So far, gas prices along U.S. 90 have been headed higher this week. The lowest-priced outlets in Lafayette were at $2.08 to $2.11 for unleaded regular last week, and were about $2.19 Tuesday. Some Tri-City stations charged $2.30 or more.
The price for a barrel of West Texas intermediate crude oil, which hit $100 nine months ago, dipped to $44 in January before inching back to $49 in this morning’s trading.
In St. Mary, the unemployment rate rose from 4.8 percent in December 2013 to 6.8 percent in December 2014, according to statistics from the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
But jobs in St. Mary actually increased about 650 to 22,438.