Gallon of gas climbs above $3 mark in Las Vegas

By Kyle B. Hansen

Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010 | 3:02 p.m.

Nevadans who are watching their wallets this holiday season have an extra foe this year: the gas pump.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Nevada is $3.07, according to AAA’s monthly fuel price report released Tuesday.

Motorists are paying, on average, 13 cents more per gallon than a month ago and 34 cents more than this time last year, the auto club said.

“This latest gas price increase comes at a time when many people are straining their budgets for the holiday season,” AAA spokesman Michael Geeser said in a statement. “No one ever wants to pay more money at the pump but especially not during the holidays when there are so many other expenses that people are trying to meet.”

While the state’s average gas price briefly hit $3 per gallon in May, this is the first time in more than a year that prices in Southern Nevada have gone above $3.

The average price in both Las Vegas and North Las Vegas is $3.03, a 16-cent rise from last month’s report for both cities. The average in Henderson is $3.06, an 18-cent increase from a month ago.

Northern Nevada, where prices are typically higher, also saw a major price increase in the past month.

A gallon of gas averages $3.17 in Reno, a 10-cent increase; $3.04 in Carson City, a 12-cent increase; and $3.18 in Sparks, a 12-cent increase. Elko’s average price of $3.03 is the same as a month ago.

The highest recorded price for gas in Las Vegas was $4.28, on June 21, 2008, according to AAA. Reno’s record price of $4.22 came the next day.

AAA said this month’s price increase is largely the result of global demand. The national gas price average is $2.98, a 12-cent increase since last month’s report.

Nevada has the 10th highest gas prices in the nation, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. The highest average price in the country is $3.56 per gallon in Hawaii. California has the highest in the lower 48 states, at $3.26 per gallon.

Most other western cities had similar price jumps this month. Los Angeles’ average of $3.26 is a 15-cent increase, San Francisco had an 11-cent price jump to $3.36 and prices in Phoenix rose 16 cents, to $2.90.

However, neighboring Utah had more stable prices than Nevada. The average price in Salt Lake City rose just 1 cent, to $2.91, and prices in St. George dropped 3 cents, to $2.74 per gallon.