Chattanooga gas prices rise at slower pace than nation

FILE – In this Wednesday, June 4, 2014 file photo, Marty Mascio of Pembroke Pines, Fla., selects a grade of gasoline as he fills up his car at a Chevron station in Pembroke Pines. Lifting restrictions on exports of crude oil from the U.S. would benefit the U.S. economy and lead to a slight dip in gasoline prices, according to a study released Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

The average retail price of regular gas in Chattanooga rose another penny a gallon last week, pushing up the average price of gas by 16.2 cents from the average price a month ago, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 170 gas outlets in Chattanooga.

But at $2.15 per gallon, the average Chattanooga price of regular gas was still $1.01 less than it was a year ago and 31 cents per gallon less than the current U.S. average. Gas prices are rising at a slower pace in Chattanooga than the country as a whole and price increases in the past week were the lowest since gas prices began rising two months ago.

“Drivers are finally getting a break from the big rise in gasoline prices,” Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst with GasBuddy, said in a report released Monday. “Gas prices have finally started to cool off after coming into March like a lion; we can only hope they go out like a lamb.”

DeHaan said he expects the national average price of gas will continue to cool off in the week ahead, led lower by relief hitting pumps in the West.