Area gas prices up nearly 12 cents per gallon last week

Average retail gasoline prices in Naples have risen 11.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.44 per gallon Sunday.

This compares with the national average that has increased 4.9 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.49 per gallon, according to gasoline price website NaplesGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Naples during the past week, prices Sunday were 27.2 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 8.2 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 2.4 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 20.1 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

"Gasoline prices continue to rise across much of the nation, which is precisely what we had forecast earlier this year, so it does not come as much of a shock," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "Either way, I don't expect the national average to break out of its mid-$3 per gallon rut until mid-to-late September, then we may get some action to the downside."