Gas prices around Picayune have risen by about 20 cents since February.

Monday the cheapest price for a regular gallon of gas, with the ethanol added, was at Bill’s Quick Stop, RaceTrac and Murphy Oil. All three stores were selling a gallon for $3.36.

Some places around town do offer gas without ethanol added, but at a premium. Non-ethanol gasoline will run between $3.56 to $3.63 per gallon.

About two months ago a gallon of regular unleaded gas could be found for $3.14 per gallon.

“It sure did go up,” said Pearl River County resident Alan Thomas. “I’m pretty sure (the price) is affecting everybody.”

The price of diesel has not seen much of an increase. In February a gallon of diesel ran between $3.59 to $3.75.

Monday the prices were about the same, RaceTrac had diesel priced at $3.60, while the Texaco on U.S. 11 was selling a gallon for $3.75.

The station with the highest price for a gallon of gasoline was Logan’s, at $3.56 for a gallon of unleaded.

According to the Associated Press, prices in Picayune are slightly lower than the average along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

On April 18 prices were at $3.44 a gallon. A year ago the price of a gallon was $3.32.

In July of 2008 the price per gallon in this region averaged $4.02.

Motorists in Hawaii are paying the most for a gallon of gas, $4.30, according to gasbuddy.com.

Motorists in Louisiana are paying $3.48 per gallon on average.