Unleaded gas is priced at $4.99 a galllon and diesel at $5.99 at the Nittany Minit Mart in Newberry on Monday afternoon. KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

For motorists in Lycoming County and the region, the price of regular gasoline is falling in the middle of the range, compared to the rest of the state, but that is enough of a shocker to cause pain at the pumps starting out the week.

While the national average for regular gasoline is $4.85, and the state is averaging $4.95. Nearly everywhere is approaching the $5 mark, according to the American Automobile Association.

The situation is fluid and with the price of oil at $120 a barrel, it is costing more, not less, at the station.

In fact, a year ago Monday, the state average cost for gasoline was $3.17, while a month ago, it was $4.46.

Today’s national average for a gallon of gas is $4.86, which is 59 cents more than a month ago, and $1.81 more than a year ago.

The lowest price was $4.75 at Sam’s Club at the Lycoming Mall in Muncy Township. That requires a store membership and card.

Prices were a couple of cents higher per gallon elsewhere.

According to GasBuddy, a service that pinpoints prices at the stations and sites based on zip code, regular gasoline was $4.84 at Sunoco in South Williamsport, $4.89 at Sheetz, $4.95 at Citgo on Washington Boulevard, and $4.95 at the mini mart at Sixth Avenue and High Street.

Clinton County was averaging $4.91, and $4.95 in Tioga County, while it hit $5 a gallon in Sullivan County.

The low price across the state was $4.59.

Petroleum costs are increasing due to the cost of the barrel of oil and the laws of supply and demand.

The cost of a barrel of oil has nearly doubled from last August, as increased oil demand outpaced the tight global supply, according to AAA.

Meanwhile, domestic gasoline demand rose last week in the wake of a robust Memorial Day weekend of travel.

As a result, the national average for a gallon of gas surged 25 cents in one week to the $4.86 mark at the time of this report Monday.

“People are still fueling up, despite these high prices,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson.

“At some point, drivers may change their daily driving habits or lifestyle due to these high prices, but we are not there yet,” Gross said.