After dropping or holding steady most of the summer, national gas prices have risen every day for the last two weeks, while local prices have inched forward, as well.
The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is now $2.22 per gallon, up six cents from last week. The New York State average is $2.33 per gallon, up three cents from a week ago, but down 32 cents from this time last year.
Locally, gas in Buffalo and Rochester is averaging $2.28 per gallon, a penny more than a week ago in Buffalo, and a climb of four cents in Rochester.
Despite the increase, drivers are on track to pay the lowest Labor Day gas prices since 2004.
A number of factors have been driving prices higher for motorists including: higher crude oil prices, refinery issues in the Gulf Coast, and the threat of a tropical weather system moving into the Gulf of Mexico. Refineries will begin to switch to the less-expensive winter-blend gasoline in mid-September.