While gasoline prices are up almost 9 cents per gallon in the region this week, up to a $3.67 per gallon average in Butler, those prices are still more than a 20 cents per gallon lower than they were a year ago.

Gas prices averaged $3.84 at this time last year in Western Pennsylvania.

According to the AAA East Central office in Pittsburgh, prices nationally have gone up with seasonal changes approaching spring.

However, those prices haven’t been going up as dramatically than in the past three years, since there are no international conflicts or domestic refinery issues exacerbating the price jump.

This summer the prices will go up because of the change to summer blend gasolines at refineries, said Bevi Powell, senior vice president at AAA East Central.

Other factors play a role, too.

“Going into the summer driving season, demand is higher because people are going on their summer driving trips,” Powell said.

She added pump prices are likely to go higher, especially if crude oil prices remain elevated. Crude oil prices may be affected by continued protests in South Sudan and Venezuela.

Gasoline prices in the Pittsburgh region reached their peak in the summer of 2008, when they averaged $4.05 per gallon. Powell said gas prices most likely will not go near that price this year.

Gas prices vary across the region this week. They averaged $3.70 in Indiana, $3.68 in Beaver, $3.69 in Kittanning and $3.47 in Sharon.