Pump pain continues as gas prices in Massachusetts rise another 21 cents

Gasoline prices continue to hit record highs, with regular gasoline in Massachusetts averaging $4.60 a gallon, up 21 cents from last week, according to AAA.

Monday’s price was 53 cents higher than a month ago and $1.69 higher than a year ago. On average, regular gas in Massachusetts is 12 cents above the national average.

A number of factors have pushed gasoline prices higher, including the politics behind oil prices, the war in Ukraine and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The high cost of crude oil, the key ingredient in gasoline, continues to drive up prices at the pump dramatically for consumers,” said Mary Maguire, director of public and government affairs for AAA Northeast, in a statement. “Even the annual seasonal decline in gasoline demand that we typically see between Spring Break and Memorial Day — which would normally help drive down prices — is having no effect this year.”

The national average for regular gasoline is $4.48 a gallon, up 16 cents from last week, according to AAA Northeast’s fuel price survey Monday. The national average is 41 cents higher than it was a month ago and $1.44 higher than it was a year ago.