By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple

The average cost of a gallon of regular-grade gas in Temple jumped 13 cents overnight, climbing from $3.27 yesterday to an average of $3.40 this morning.

A week ago, gas in Temple was $3.16 — a year ago today it was $2.43.

Regular-grade gas isn’t the only fuel on the rise. Premium gas jumped from $3.80 to $3.89 overnight, and diesel rose from $3.72 to $3.87.

Since Monday, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has increased by 11 cents to $3.72. 

According to AAA Texas, an increase in gas demand, alongside a reduction in total supply, is contributing to price increases, but increasing oil prices continue to play a leading role in pushing prices higher. 

Pump prices will likely continue to rise as crude prices continue to climb, AAA Texas said. 

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate crude oil increased by $7.19 to settle at $110.60 – the highest settlement price since May 2011. Crude prices continue to surge as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to bring uncertainty to the market. 

To help counter the impact of rising oil prices, the International Energy Agency has coordinated a release of 60 million barrels of crude oil from its 31 member countries’ strategic reserves, including the U.S., Germany, Canada, South Korea, and Mexico.

Don’t be Fueled into Wasting Gas

Keep these fuel-saving tips in mind:

► Minimize your use of air conditioning. Even at highway speeds, open windows have less effect on fuel economy than the engine power required to operate the air conditioning compressor.

► Plan ahead to accomplish multiple errands in one trip, and whenever possible travel outside high-traffic times of day.

► If you own more than one car, use the most fuel efficient model that meets the needs of any given journey.

► In hot weather, park in the shade or use a windshield sunscreen to lessen heat buildup inside the car. This reduces the need for air conditioning (and thus fuel) to cool down the car.

► Remove unnecessary and bulky items from your car. It takes more fuel to accelerate a heavier car, and the reduction in fuel economy is greater for small cars than larger models.

► Minimize your use of roof racks and remove special carriers when not in use. On the highway even an empty bike, canoe or ski rack can reduce fuel economy, and a loaded rack or car-top container will have a major effect on gas mileage.