Last week, Arizona's average price of gas jumped by around 30 cents a gallon as refineries started producing a summer fuel blend that is more expensive, according to AAA's Fuel Prices database.

Nationally, gas prices are also on the rise, but Arizona's spike in cost brought the state's average gas price above the national average, which is $3.16 per gallon as of Feb. 19.

"Routine seasonal maintenance and an offline refinery in Northern California are putting additional strain on supply," stated a Feb. 13 AAA release about rising gas prices.

Gas demand typically peaks in the summer as people travel more. Arizona's gas prices show no sign of slowing down.

What is the average cost of gas in Arizona?

The average cost of regular gas in Arizona is $3.42 per gallon as of Feb. 19, up slightly from the past week's average of $3.38.

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Where is the cheapest gas in metro Phoenix?

In metro Phoenix, the Phoenix-Mesa area claimed the title of cheapest average gas with a price of $3.61 per gallon. Scottsdale's gas, at $3.69, was the most expensive in metro Phoenix and in Arizona more broadly.

Across the state, Yuma's gas was the cheapest, with an average cost of $3.12 per gallon.

Why is gas so expensive?

Every year, Arizona switches to a summer gasoline blend that creates less pollution because it's designed to prevent gas from evaporating in the heat. It's also more expensive, costing around 10 to 15 cents more per gallon.

The increase in cost was exacerbated this year due to a fire at one of the California refineries where Arizona sources gas, the Arizona Daily Sun reported.

How can I save money on gas?

With the amount of factors involved, it's hard to predict whether gas prices in the state will see a dip anytime soon.

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