MOSES LAKE – Gas prices have seen one of the largest increases in Washington this year, with prices sitting at an average of $4.42, according to AAA. There was also an increase in both Grant and Adams counties from the previous week. 

Grant County saw around a four-cent increase from $4.30 last week to around $4.34 this week. This is the second week in a row that prices have increased for the county.  

Adams County saw a larger increase of around 24 cents. The county went from around $4.18 last week to about $4.32, according to AAA. Adams County has been sitting around $4.20 for the past month.  

Both Grant and Adams County remain in the middle of gas prices across the state, according to AAA. San Juan County is the most expensive in the state at $5.31. Asotin County remained the cheapest at $3.81, a three-cent decrease from last week. 

Washington's average prices have increased for the third week in a row, averaging $4.42, a $0.07 increase from the previous week. The current price is around $0.14 higher than a month ago and $0.14 cheaper than a year ago, according to AAA. 

Washington remains one of the most expensive states to purchase gas, with only California at $4.85 and Hawaii at $4.47 having higher prices in the nation.  

Nationally, gas prices have stayed the same for the second week in a row with an average of $3.18, according to AAA. As of a month ago, prices increased by $0.04. However, as of a year ago, prices are lower now by around $0.41, from an average of $3.59.   

Statewide, premium gasoline is selling for $4.866 per gallon on average, down from $5.029 one year ago as of May 26. 

AAA suggests that drivers take the following steps to mitigate their fuel expenses:  

1. Slow down and drive the speed limit. On the highway, drag from air resistance causes fuel economy to drop significantly at speeds above 50 mph.  

2. Avoid jackrabbit starts and hard acceleration.  

3. Accelerate smoothly with light to moderate throttle. This allows the automatic transmission to upshift into higher gears sooner, reducing engine rpm and saving fuel.

4. Avoid extended idling to warm up the engine, even in winter.

5. Avoid prolonged idling in general. If the car is stopped for more than one minute, turn the engine off to save fuel. Many newer cars do this automatically.  

6. Adjust speeds to minimize waiting at traffic lights while in town. Many are timed so that someone travelling the speed limit between lights will not have to stop at subsequent lights. 

7. Use cruise control to help maintain a constant speed and save fuel. Be cautious and don’t use this on slippery roads, though.  

8. In vehicles with manual transmissions, upshift as soon as possible without “lugging” the engine.