Gas prices still climbing, top $4 in 6 states

Gasoline prices rose again Friday and are now averaging more than $4 in six states and Washington, D.C. Oil had its biggest gain in three weeks and natural gas prices also rose.

Retail gasoline prices were up a penny on Friday to a national average of $3.831 per gallon, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service.

The average price for a gallon of regular is now above $4 in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois and New York.

Gasoline has jumped by almost 56 cents per gallon since Jan. 1 and is the highest ever for this time of year. That's costing drivers an extra $11.20 to fill up a 20-gallon tank. Experts are forecasting that the nationwide average could reach $4.25 by the end of April.

For now, consumers aren't seeing similar increases in other areas. The Labor Department said Friday that excluding energy prices, inflation stayed mild in February. Food prices were unchanged for the first time in 19 months.

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