COLUMBIA S.C. (WACH)—After several weeks of steady decline, gas is on it’s way back up in the Midlands.  According to ColumbiaGasPrices.com, there has been a 14.3 cent increase per gallon in the last 7 days, bringing the average to $3.01.  The national average, which has remained well above the the Midlands and even state price, rose 3.8 cents to an average $3.41 a gallon.

Even with the recent rise, gas is still 37.3 cents cheaper than a year ago.

“After a dramatic decline in gasoline prices in virtually every region in the past month, gasoline prices have started to rise," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "While I don't necessarily believe that the recent uptick in crude prices will stick, I also don't see prices falling considerably lower until after the conclusion of the summer driving season, when demand declines, and more expensive blends are phased out," DeHaan said.

You can always find the cheapest gas in the Midlands by click on the Pain at the Pump link on Midlandsconnect.com.