Posted on: Monday, July 29, 2002

U.S., Hawai'i gas prices up

Advertiser Staff and News Services

CAMARILLO, Calif. — After a flat summer, gasoline prices nationally edged up nearly 2 cents a gallon in the past two weeks, with Hawai'i still the highest and also climbing.

"The low and very, very stable prices throughout the summer did have to end some time," analyst Trilby Lundberg said yesterday. "What we have is a closer balance between supply and demand and continued crude oil price strengths."

Despite increased summer driving demand, supplies remained plentiful, she said.

The national price of gas at the pump averaged about $1.46 per gallon on Friday, according to the Lundberg survey of 8,000 stations. That was up 1.68 cents from July 12.

Hawai'i's average yesterday was $1.74 per gallon, up four cents from last month. Honolulu's regular, self-serve price averaged $1.65, about the same as a month ago. Wailuku on Maui, however, saw $1.92, up from $1.76 a month ago, while Hilo was $1.86, up a nickel from a month ago.

The national weighted average price of gasoline, including taxes, at self-serve pumps was about $1.43 per gallon for regular, $1.53 for mid-grade and $1.61 for premium.