Rising demand for gasoline has driven up prices at pumps across the country and in the Vancouver-Portland metropolitan area, according to AAA Oregon/Idaho.
The auto agency reported Tuesday that prices rose 1 cent in Portland last week, to $2.88 per gallon, and nearly 6 cents in Vancouver, to $2.96 per gallon. Industry experts said in the report that demand typically rises around this time each year, but could level off as the holidays approach.
Still, prices are higher than usual. Vancouver and Portland both have seen pump prices grow more than 35 cents per gallon since this time last year.
Oregon and Washington both placed in the top five most expensive states for gas at $2.86 and $3 per gallon, respectively. The national average is $2.56 per gallon.
