Gas Prices Jump Nearly 17 Cents in U.S.

CAMARILLO, Calif. April 9, 2006; The AP reported that retail gas prices across the country soared an average of nearly 17 cents in the past two weeks, according to a survey released Sunday.

The weighted average for all three grades increased to $2.69 a gallon by Friday, said Trilby Lundberg, who publishes the semimonthly Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations in the country.

Self-serve regular averaged $2.67 a gallon. Mid-grade cost $2.76 a gallon while premium hit $2.86 a gallon.

Among the stations surveyed, the lowest average price in the country for regular unleaded was in Salt Lake City at $2.28 a gallon. The most expensive was in Honolulu, where drivers paid $2.88 a gallon.