BANGOR, Maine - The cost of gas in Maine is creeping up, and by mid-summer could climb another 45 cents per gallon.
The latest GasBuddy.com survey of Maine gas stations shows that the average price rose 2.1 cents to $2.26 per gallon last week. During that same time, the national average rose 4.3 cents to $2.32 per gallon.
At the Northern New England division of the American Automobile Association in Portland, spokesman Pat Moody says the increases are due largely to the oil industry's seasonal changeover from winter to summer fuel blends, and a decrease in oil production among members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC.
"There was kind of a major deal on reduction brokered last year within OPEC, the oil producing nations," Moody said. "All eyes are on that to understand if they're going to continue with the reduction deal or if it will go back to normal."
Gas prices in Maine were nearly 53 cents higher on Sunday than they were a year ago, but compared to a month ago, they have fallen an average of 7.5 cents.