VANCOUVER — Gasoline prices in the Portland-Vancouver metro area moved higher this week, with the average price for regular unleaded in Vancouver at $2.83 a gallon.
That’s up from $2.81 last week, and up from $2.17 a year ago, said AAA Oregon/Idaho. Portland’s average was $2.75, up two cents from last week. The national average price increased five cents to $2.66 per gallon. “Climbing crude prices have sent pump prices higher,” said Marie Dodds with AAA. At $79 per barrel, the price of crude oil is up from about $77 per barrel one week ago.
Dodds said the weakened U.S. dollar has driven up the price of crude, although U.S. demand for oil remains sluggish and the nation’s refineries were running at below 80 percent capacity.
