Gas prices on the rise in Miami area as holiday weekend approaches

Gas prices in the Miami area jumped by almost 6 cents over the past week as gasoline prices rose across the country.

Drivers paid an average of $2.33 per gallon on Monday, according to a survey of area stations by GasBuddy.com.

The national average also rose by about 6 cents to $2.28 per gallon. In Florida, the average price was $2.21, an increase of about 3 cents from a week ago.

Compared to past years, however, drivers are still saving at the gas pump.

“What we’re seeing is not out of the ordinary,” said Gregg Laskoski, a senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. “But even with prices rising, we’re still looking at gasoline prices overall that are well below what we paid a year ago.”

Last year, drivers in the Miami area paid an average of 40 cents more per gallon and an average of $1.34 more per gallon in 2014, according to GasBuddy.

Laskoski said the increases are expected due to seasonal and industry gas trends right before Memorial Day, a holiday with some of the heaviest traffic nationwide. Prices will likely rise a few cents as Memorial Day weekend approaches.

This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 8:17 AM with the headline "Gas prices on the rise in Miami area as holiday weekend approaches."