Gasoline prices in Northeast Ohio have increased 4.5 cents this week, settling at an average $3.109 for regular unleaded gas. And AAA, formerly the American Automobile Association, expects pump prices to continue to rise following a week of continued unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. Crude oil prices have risen to about $96 a barrel as of Wednesday, prices not seen since 2008, according to the Associated Press. As of Tuesday, Missouri and Wyoming were the only states with an average price for regular gasoline remaining below $3 a gallon, according to a media release from AAA East Central. The national retail average price is $3.17, up 52 cents from a year ago. The average price in Northeast Ohio currently is $3.109; during the week of Feb. 23, 2010, the average was $2.596, according to AAA. Locally, Mentor saw an average price of $3.084 Tuesday; Lyndhurst, $3.141; Cleveland, $3.116; Chester Township, $3.136; and Ashtabula, $3.114; according to AAA. Crude oil prices have risen following unrest in areas strategic to gasoline supplies. Most recently, Libya, North Africa’s second-largest oil producer, has seen violent unrest from which thousands have fled in recent days. Other oil-producing countries also have seen anti-government protests in recent days, including Iran, Bahrain, Algeria and Yemen. Less dramatic jumps in oil prices followed weeks of unrest in Egypt, which controls several key oil supply lines, such as the Sumed pipeline and the Suez Canal. Oil prices moved just $1.39 during unrest there, according to AAA. AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 80 local offices in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, New York and Kentucky serving 2.6 million members.

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