Gas prices rising

Gas prices rising

Unrest in the Middle East  is hitting drivers in the pocketbook. Crude oil prices have risen to their highest level in years.  Oil resumed its march to $90 a barrel, promising to bring gasoline prices along for the ride.

Benchmark crude rose 82 cents to settle at $88.61 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. At the pump, the US average price for a gallon of regular gas rose about half a cent to $2.98, almost three cents higher than a week ago and 37 cents above a year ago.

West Coast drivers pay the most, an average of $3.23 a gallon. The average is just over $3 in New England, while regular goes for about $2.90 in the Southeast.