MOSES LAKE — There were slight increases to average gas prices in Grant County, Washington and nationwide this week, according to AAA. Adams County saw a slight decline in prices.  

“Most of the nation’s 50 states saw gas prices rise over the last week, while some Great Lakes states saw significant relief thanks to the restart of BP’s Whiting, Indiana, refinery after severe weather caused a temporary outage,” wrote Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, in a statement. 

De Haan wrote that there are 17 states with average prices below $3 a gallon – fewer than in recent months. The West Coast has seen increases due to seasonal refinery maintenance and the shutdown of a refinery in Southern California. However, winter gasoline is around a week away for most areas, with De Haan predicting these increases will be short-lived with lower prices by the end of the month.  

In Grant County, prices saw a slight increase of four cents with an average of $4.46 in the county, according to AAA. As of a month ago, prices were sitting five cents lower or at $4.39 in the county. This is the third week in a row that prices have increased in the county.  

In Adams County, there was a slight decrease in fuel prices, with prices staying at $4.31 or four cents cheaper than last week. As of a month ago, fuel prices were two cents more expensive in the county, sitting at $4.33. This is the first week in a row where the prices have decreased. 

Both Grant and Adams counties are sitting in the middle of the pack for fuel prices in the state. The most expensive county remains San Juan County at $5.49, a 19-cent decrease from last week, according to AAA. Asotin County remained the cheapest at $3.84, which is a one-cent decrease from last week. 

Washington saw the first increase in fuel prices in the past three weeks, with the average price at $4.46 or six cents more than the last three weeks. A month ago, prices were sitting at six cents cheaper or $4.40. As of a year ago, prices are up 30 cents from last year, when the average was sitting at $4.16. 

Washington remains the third most expensive state to purchase fuel in, with only California at $4.62 and Hawaii at $4.4,7 with higher prices in the nation. Following Washington is Oregon at $4.08, Nevada at $3.86 and Alaska at $3.78. 

The national average saw a slight increase of one cent, bringing the average fuel price to $3.20, according to AAA. One month ago, prices were sitting at a higher average of $3.16, four cents cheaper than now. As of a year ago, prices are up seven cents from an average of $3.27.