By David Vitrano
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Although the almost retro gas prices starting with the numeral “2” may have slipped over the horizon, motorists in the River Parishes should still be pleasantly surprised at the pump as they prepare for holiday travels.
In Louisiana, verage retail gasoline prices in Louisiana have risen 12.7 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.11 per gallon Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 2,436 gas outlets in Louisiana. Locally, prices along Airline Highway range from $3.05 to $3.19 per gallon. This compares with the national average that has increased 5.1 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.26 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Louisiana during the past week, prices Sunday were 8.8 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 3.3 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has decreased 5.4 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 17.4 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.
“The national average has seen its bounce continue in the last week across most of the nation,” said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “Some of the lows we saw just a couple weeks ago have vanished, replaced by higher digits as oil prices rallied. It will be an interesting week ahead as some notable progress emerged after developed countries came to a partial solution on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Just that action alone may result in significant downward pressure on oil prices as tough sanctions may soon be eased, allowing Iran’s oil to flood an already well-supplied marketplace.”