Gas prices have spiked around the Valley during the past week primarily due to routine refinery maintenance, said Julian Paredes, a spokesman for AAA Arizona.

In the West Valley, the price for an average gallon of gas is $3.55 per gallon — 19 cents higher a gallon than it was last week, according to the AAA website.

Phoenix gas prices have kept pace with costs ticking up.

As of Aug. 22, the average cost of a gallon of gas in Phoenix was $3.54 — a bit higher than the $3.36 per gallon it was one week ago, the website stated.

Still, the cost for a barrel of oil is below $70 — which is the “biggest determinate” for what gas prices will be, Paredes said.

“The simple answer — as long as oil is cheap — gas will be on the cheaper side as well,” Paredes said.

In 2022, local gas was at its hig

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