Average retail gasoline prices in Lehigh Acres, Cape Coral and Fort Myers have risen 1.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.48/g Sunday. This compares with the national average that has increased 1.1 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.34/g, according to gasoline price website CapeCoralGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in the county during the past week, prices, Sunday were 33.4 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 19.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 10.3 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 27.2 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

“Gasoline prices have slowed their rise in the last week as oil prices have temporarily stabilized,” said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “I’m sure this leveling off in retail price won’t last terribly long as tension mounts with Iran. I still expect 2012 to be a nasty year for the typical motorist, which is what our recently released 2012 gasoline price outlook also

states,” DeHaan said.