Special to The Post-Searchlight

Average retail gasoline prices in Georgia have risen 1.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.35-per-gallon yesterday. This compares with the national average that has increased 1.1 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.34-per-gallon, according to gasoline price website GeorgiaGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Georgia during the past week, prices yesterday were 36.6 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 20.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 10.3 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 27.2 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

“Gasoline prices have slowed their rise in the last week as oil prices have temporarily stabilized,” said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “I’m sure this leveling off in retail price won’t last terribly long as tension mounts with Iran.

“I still expect 2012 to be a nasty year for the typical motorist, which is what our recently released 2012 gasoline price outlook also states,” DeHaan said.