Pain at the Pump as Some Gas Prices Hit $4 a Gallon

Gas prices are up again and topping $4 a gallon in some parts of the country, rivaling and in some cases surpassing last year, which was the most pricey for fuel, USA Today reported.

Gas prices across the nation climbed 17 cents over 26 consecutive days in July, USA Today reported, the first monthly gain since March and the steepest climb since at least 2000. Prices had sunk to almost $3 a gallon in parts of the South before the reversal.

The average price in the country for regular gasoline is $3.50 a gallon.
"More and more locations say prices are above where they were last year — and last year was the most expensive for motor fuel," Oil Price Information Service analyst Tom Kloza told USA Today.

Prices in Chicago are as high $4.29 a gallon and the Midwest is seeing near $4 levels in several regions, accrding to USA Today. But Hawaii has the nation's highest average gas price at $4.15 a gallon, followed by Alaska at $4 and Connecticut at $3.82.

South Carolina ($3.20), Mississippi ($3.24) and Alabama ($3.25) boast the lowest prices. State taxes explain part of the difference.

It will get worse before it gets better as August prices are likely to climb to a national average of about $3.60 before falling again after Labor Day, Kloza told the paper.