NJ Gas Prices Continue To Rise With Switch To Summer Fuel

Gas prices nationwide are closing in on $4 a gallon, according to a AAA survey out today.

The survey found that the average price rose 1.3 cents to $3.91, and the price has risen for 19 consecutive days.

The current price compares to just below $3.70 a month ago, and just below $3.59 a year ago.

"I do think that we will probably see 10 or 15 cent increases between now and Easter Sunday. It has nothing to do with that day in particular, it has everything to do with April 1st and some terminals switching from winter gasoline which is a lot cheaper than summer grade fuel" said Tom Kloza, chief analyst at the Oil Price Information Service in Wall Township.

The good news, Kloza says, is that the crude market internationally is calming down a bit.

"It got up to close $130 a barrel and now it is coming down a bit now that countries are making contingency plans for dealing with tensions in Iran.  It's really a mixed bag though...we should see a little bit of a jump in gasoline in the next few weeks and then we'll watch April.  That could be a peak month or remain flat."

The average price for a gallon of regular in New Jersey today is $3.68,  according to NewJerseyGasPrices.com.  The national average is $3.88.