Chattanooga gas prices jump to highest so far this year

Spring has sprung, and with that comes higher gas prices.

The average retail price of regular gas in Chattanooga jumped another 7.1 cents per gallon in the past week, rising to $2.41 per gallon - the highest price so far this year, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 170 gas outlets in Chattanooga released Monday.

Chattanooga gas prices remained 24 cents per gallon below the U.S. average, but local prices at the pump are up 16.3 cents per gallon in the past month and are 37.4 cents per gallon above where they were a year ago at this time.

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said prices at the pump are likely to continue to rise along with the springtime temperatures.

"Think of the spring surge as a bit of a race," he said. "Some states will see their price rally early and fast-paced, while others may lag behind. So no matter if prices near you surged or haven't yet, we're all going to eventually feel a similar rise amongst all states."

A separate AAA Auto Club survey of service stations across Tennessee showed similar price increases.

The most expensive gas price averages in Tennessee at the start of this week were in Nashville at $2.51 per gallon, Cleveland at $2.51 per gallon and Clarksville-Hopkinsville at $2.47 per gallon. The least expensive gas price averages in Tennessee were in Memphis at $2.40 per gallon, Chattanooga at $2.42 per gallon, and Knoxville at $2.44 per gallon.

"Strong demand, tightening supplies, and record-high gasoline exports gave gas prices a boost this week," Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA - The Auto Club Group, said Monday in a report on gas prices. "Pump prices seemed to have stalled over the weekend, but there is still potential for higher prices this spring."

Gas prices had the most expensive March in four years, averaging $2.35 for the entire month - an increase of 30 cents from March 2017, Jenkins said.

Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 757-6340.