Gas prices increase despite drop in crude

Gasoline prices in the region crept up in the last week even though crude oil fell and demand is traditionally low in winter, AAA Mid-Atlantic said yesterday.

"Lower crude-oil prices plus lower demand may not equal lower gas prices if refineries cut back on production," AAA spokeswomen Catherine L. Rossi said.

In Philadelphia and the four suburban counties in Pennsylvania, prices rose four cents a gallon in the last seven days to an average of $1.82. But that compared with $3.11 a year ago.

In the three suburban South Jersey counties, the average yesterday was $1.65 a gallon, up six cents in the last week. The price was $2.89 a year ago.

Nationally, the price rose five cents in the last week to an average of $1.84 a gallon.

- Paul Schweizer