NOTTINGHAM, Md. — Gas and diesel prices spiked sharply across the nation over the past week, driven higher by regional refinery disruptions in the Great Lakes and persistent global supply pressures.
The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline rose 18.5 cents over the last week to $4.44 per gallon. That average is up 34.4 cents from a month ago and sits $1.30 per gallon higher than the same period last year. Diesel prices experienced an even steeper increase, climbing 30.7 cents in a single week to reach a national average of $6.49 per gallon.
Fuel costs increased in almost every state, with 45 states reporting gains of more than 3 cents per gallon. The Great Lakes region experienced the most severe surges, as local refinery issues pushed weekly prices up by more than 30 cents per gallon across Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Michigan recorded the largest increase in gasoline prices, jumping 46.7 cents per gallon, followed by Indiana at 42.7 cents, Ohio at 37.3 cents, Illinois at 36.9 cents, and Wisconsin at 34.6 cents…