By Terry Richards
terry.richards@gaflnews.com

VALDOSTA — South Georgia’s gasoline prices rose slightly in the past week, bucking state and national trends.

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Valdosta Thursday was $2.79, up a penny over a week earlier, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

The lowest price reported in Valdosta Thursday was $2.53 per gallon at a Bemiss Road store, according to the price tracking website gasbuddy.com. In Tifton, the lowest price reported was $2.57 per gallon at two Alabama Avenue retailers.

Valdosta had the fourth-highest average fuel price Thursday among the 15 Georgia markets monitored by the auto club: below Savannah, Hinesville and Brunswick but above Warner Robins, Rome, Macon, Gainesville, Dalton, Columbus, Augusta, Atlanta, Athens and Albany.

Nationally, the average price of gasoline Thursday was $3.20 per gallon, one cent less than seven days earlier, while Georgia’s average of $2.72 per gallon was also a penny lower in the same timeframe AAA said.

“All this terrible weather lately could cause regional prices to rise as drivers flock to the few open stations with gas,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “But as roads are cleared and power is restored, stations will be able to be re-supplied, so any upward pressure on prices should be fleeting.”