Average retail gasoline prices in Chattanooga have risen 3.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.60 per gallon on Sunday. This compares with the national average that has increased 2.3 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.86 per gallon, according to gasoline price website ChattanoogaGasPrices.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Chattanooga during the past week, prices Sunday were 22.9 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 17.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 15.8 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 24.9 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.
"The national average continues to hover near its higher ever September level," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "As we push deeper into September, the more optimistic I am that these high prices will begin to come down slightly, but with the recently announced QE3, I'm a bit concerned that prices won't moderate as much as previously expected as the dollar weakens, leading me to believe 2012 will have featured the highest yearly average ever."