The lower gas price of a month ago is now just a memory as regular gas prices have increased by 20 cents over the past month in Eastern Massachusetts.
The average regular gallon of gas is $3.80 today in Eastern Mass. compared to $3.60 just a month ago. Mid-range gas is now $3.94 compared to $3.76 from a month ago and premium has increased to $4.07 from $3.88, according to AAA.
In Barnstable, the lowest price seems to be $3.74 a gallon of regular, particularly at the Cumberland Farms stores.
"Found a better price?" I asked while buying a half-tank at Cumberland Farms on Route 132.
"Yeah," the fellow fueler said. "Go off Cape."
Gas prices in Plymouth begin at $3.67.
Let's have some perspective. That seven cent difference means $.70 every 10 gallons. I put 10 gallons in the tank, seventy cents more than the cost of a half tank across the canal. Not so bad. To fill a 20-gallon tank, that's a $1.40 difference.
These prices still beat what we paid in 2008 at $4.09 a gallon. We could see those prices again. The recent price hike comes from commodity speculators' reaction to Hurricane Isaac, which temporarily shut down oil production in the Gulf of Mexico.
So, locally, have you found a better price? If so share it in comments. Please. We all want to know how to save a couple bucks at the pump.