NEO gas prices increase 9 cents

Northeast Ohio motorists are paying nine cents more per gallon this week as prices continue their upward trend. The average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.316.

The year ended with an annual national average of $3.60 per gallon — the highest on record and nine cents more expensive than the previous high of $3.51 in 2011.

At Monday’s close of formal trading on the NYMEX, the price of West Texas Intermediate settled at $91.82 per barrel, up $1.02 on the day. While oil prices are rising, they remain more than $10 less expensive than the $102.96 settlement price to begin 2012.

Despite the pricier start, AAA expects national gas prices in 2013 to average less than they did in 2012.