Fuel prices rise across Tenn., but market remains cheaper than most

The price of gas in Tennessee has jumped since February. A Monday, March 25, release from AAA — The Auto Club Group had the average price for fuel up 24 cents over last month, at $3.18 dollars per gallon. A day later, the average was $3.19.

Nationally, the average cost is $3.53 a gallon.

"There's still plenty of upward pressure on gas prices right now in the market, and with last week's crude oil price increases it's likely Tennesseans will see another round of increases at the pump this week," said AAA spokesperson Megan Cooper in the release. "Any time we see big oil price gains like we saw last week, it typically takes a week or two before those adjustments move through the retail market."

Though the increase came somewhat abruptly, Tennessee remains one of less expensive states for fuel — it's currently the 7th least expensive in the U.S.

And the Knoxville metro market was among the least expensive in the state, according to the release. As of Tuesday, the average price for fuel in Blount County was $3.09 a gallon.