Washington's average gas price over $1 more than national average

SEATTLE — The work week started with a sting Monday.

Gas prices in Seattle rose 5.4 cents a gallon in the past week, averaging $4.79 for a gallon of regular gas, according to GasBuddy. Prices in the Seattle area are about 32 cents a gallon higher than a month ago, and about 20 cents higher than this time last year.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Washington state was $4.65 Monday, according to GasBuddy. The national average for a gallon of regular gas was $3.62 Monday afternoon.

Prices in Washington are higher partly because of taxes and costs from climate initiatives, but station prices can vary – even in the same city.

Analysts said prices in Washington state are also being driven by extensive refinery maintenance along the West Coast.

The cheapest price for a gallon of regular gas in Seattle was $4.15 on Sunday, while the most expensive was $5.59 a gallon, according to GasBuddy.

Oil prices have also reached their highest price since October, and the predictions aren't pretty.

Analysts said prices are expected to continue to rise along the West Coast.

The rest of the country could catch up by next week, especially in the Northeast as they finish their transition to summer gasoline production.

"With Iran's attack on Israel over the weekend, the stakes couldn't have been higher for a major potential impact on oil and gasoline prices. With the attacks largely thrawted and mostly unsuccessful, and with Iran signaling that their attack will be the end of their response, the risk to crude oil has diminished, and the situation is thankfully likely to de-escalate going forward," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "If Israel, which has promised to respond with further attacks, indeed does press on, it could certainly still push oil prices higher. However, motorists can expect other factors to influence what they're paying at the pump. Motorists in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. will soon see a spike in prices as they make the leap to summer gasoline— as much as 20-50 cents per gallon higher in nearly a dozen states. On the West Coast, price increases should finally slow, but the national average will likely climb again in the coming week."