Gasoline reaches $5 per gallon average nationwide for first time

Joseph Clark, The Washington Times

The national average retail price for a gallon of gasoline reached $5 for the first time

according to AAA figures. The new average marks a $1.93 rise per gallon over the past year. Prices rose by 19 cents over just the last week. Drivers in some parts of the country are paying far more than the average. The average cost per gallon for Californians is $6.43, according to AAA. The skyrocketing prices coincide with higher summer fuel demand.