Oregon - Nationwide Gas Prices Hit Record Highs

In Salem, the average price hit a new record high today at $3.45 a gallon.

Salem-News.com

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - Here we go again.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded hit record highs in parts of Oregon today, as light, sweet crude hit a record $111.76 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange Monday. The average price in Oregon hit a record high this morning at $3.49 a gallon. Diesel also hit a record high at $4.20 a gallon.

In Salem, the average price hit a new record high at $3.45 a gallon. Eugene-Springfield also hit a record high at $3.51 a gallon. Portland is just barely under it's record high at $3.46, as is Medford-Ashland at $3.54 a gallon. Diesel prices are also at record prices in some parts of the state. However in Salem, the average price is down 8-cents from it's record high at $4.07 a gallon. Eugene-Springfield has the highest average diesel price in the state at $4.25 a gallon.

The national average also hit a record high today at $3.38 a gallon. Diesel also topped it's record high at $4.11 a gallon.

Oregon has the fifth highest fuel prices. California has the highest at $3.80, followed by Hawaii ($3.71), Alaska ($3.64), and Washington ($3.55). New Jersey has the cheapest average price at $3.12 a gallon.

Analysts said one of the reasons for the record high prices, which could top $4 a gallon this summer, is due to refiners facing short supplies of alkylate, a key ingredient in summer grade fuel. AAA says gas prices in Oregon are expected to continue to rise as the summer driving season nears and prices could reach $4 a gallon by Memorial Day.