As warmer weather nears, the prices are expected climb even higher.
COLUMBIA -- The price you're paying at the pump is on the rise.
The average cost of gas in Columbia Monday is $2.52 per gallon. That's a 2.8 cent rise since last week according to ColumbiaGasPrices.com, a national gasoline tracking website.
That price comes in lower than the national average of $2.70 per gallon.
But compared to last year at this time, that current local price is 72.4 cents higher and 4.3 cents higher than last month at this time.
According to Patrick DeHaan of GasBuddy.com, which operates ColumbiaGasPrices.com, the average gasoline prices have increased nearly ten cents since last week across the nation.
"With warmer weather approaching, prices will climb even further", DeHaan says. "A major reason for the rise is that refiners will soon begin maintenance to prepare for the summer driving season, cutting into supply. Some areas of the country are already moving towards more expensive, cleaner burning summer fuels, boosting prices at the pump.
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