By Robert Pore
robert.pore@theindependent.com

Grand Island drivers are now having to pay the highest local gas prices on record, according to the Nebraska AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report released today.

Nebraska AAA reported that the average Grand Island price for regular gasoline without ethanol was $3.53 per gallon, which is up 9 cents from Sunday, 29 cents from a month ago and 67 cents from a year ago. The previous record was set on May 13, 2007, when regular gas prices hit $3.48 per gallon.

Diesel prices also set a record of $4.13 per gallon, up 3 cents from Sunday and $1.17 per gallon from a year ago.

The state high price today was in North Platte at $3.60 per gallon. The state average price for regular gasoline was $3.49 per gallon, up 25 cents from a month ago and 65 cents from a year ago. A new state high was set today for regular gasoline.

Also, a new state high was set for diesel gasoline today, according to Nebraska AAA, at $4.12 per gallon, which is $1.18 per gallon higher than a year ago.

AAA also reported that a national record high was set today with regular gasoline selling at $3.50 per gallon. Diesel prices were also at a record high today with an average price of $4.20 per gallon.

The Associated Press reported that oil prices hit a record above $117 a barrel today in Asia following an attack on a key pipeline in Nigeria at the end of last week.

Also, comments over the weekend by an OPEC official that the group isn't likely to increase production also supported prices.