GEORGIA GAS PRICES INCREASES AHEAD OF INDEPENDENCE DAY

If you are planning to take a road trip over the July 4th holiday, you can expect to pay more for gas.

AAA reports Georgians are paying an average of $2.54 a gallon for regular unleaded.

Pump prices have increased as gasoline stocks decreased but demand remains robust.

“Georgia gas prices may seem high now, but the state average is still less than last year’s high,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “A major factor driving the increase includes the upcoming Independence Day holiday, which is expected to be a high-demand travel period.”

Some 41.1 million Americans are expected to to hit the highways over the July 4th holiday.

Several other factors are contributing to the gas price hike according to Waiters, including rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran following the downing of a U.S. drone, a massive fire at a Philadelphia refinery – the largest refinery on the U.S. East Coast, which could require supplies to be redirected from other regions, and growing optimism over the possibility of the United States and China reaching an accord to end the ongoing trade dispute.

Still, Waiters said this year’s gas holiday gas hike is less than last year when motorists were paying $2.84 a gallon.

Georgia’s most expensive metro markets this week include Atlanta where you can expect to pay at least $2.59 a gallon as well as Gainesville and Athens where gas prices average $2.55 a gallon.

AAA updates fuel price averages daily at www.GasPrices.AAA.com.