Crude’s climb is creeping into Colorado’s gasoline prices.
The average price for a gallon of unleaded fuel in Colorado increased 3.8 cents this past week to $2.11, according to data released Monday. In metro Denver, prices rose 3.9 cents to $2.09 per gallon.
Nationwide, fuel prices increased 8.1 cents to $2.22 per gallon.
“Colorado would have typically seen a decrease in gas prices this week, but strong crude prices have trickled into the retail gas price picture and caused prices to rise at the pump,” Will Speer, a senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, wrote Monday in an e-mail to the Denver Post.
On Monday, oil prices retreated slightly from their yearly highs, .
Colorado’s gas prices three weeks ago. The increase was attributed to scheduled maintenance work at a Texas refinery that supplies Colorado.
“Regional refinery utilization sits at a paltry 75.4 percent for the Rocky Mountain region; so, the average gas prices rising 5 cents per gallon less than the national average for Colorado indicates the supply situation for the Texas panhandle refineries is improving, as other Rocky Mountain gasoline supply is less likely to be shared across state borders,” Speer said.
GasBuddy analysts say prices nationwide are expected to continue to inch up until Memorial Day.
Alicia Wallace: 303-954-1939, awallace@denverpost.com or @aliciawallace
