Pump prices in Arizona remain at a multi-month low as 2011 draws to an end, but are still above levels from a year ago. Statewide, Thursday's fuel price was $3.173 per gallon, an increase of 2 cents from last week. Nationwide, prices increased 3.8 cents to $3.254, according to AAA Arizona.
"A variety of factors shaped retail fuel prices this year, pushing prices to a 32-month high before pulling them to a 10-month low," Linda Gorman, spokeswoman for AAA Arizona, said in a news release.
Gorman said it's difficult to project a fuel price outlook into 2012, but "it is certain that consumers will continue to experience the volatility of oil prices and their subsequent effects at the pump in the new year."
Tucson and Flagstaff hold the low and high state fuel averages at $3.040 and $3.327 per gallon, respectively.
