Gasoline prices continue to rise. The auto club AAA reports the national average price for a gallon of regular Thursday morning was just over $2.26/gallon. That’s up more than two cents on the day, more than six cents higher than a week ago, and more than 15 cents higher than a month ago.

At least one retail chain in St Joseph has raised prices to $2.09 per gallon. Several other outlets were priced at $1.95 to $1.99 per gallon Wednesday morning.

Across Missouri, the average price was just over $2.03/gallon, an increase of nearly four cents on the day and 12 cents higher than a month ago. In Kansas the average was a little higher, at $2.07 per gallon.

According to AAA, prices are rising in part due to more expensive crude oil costs brought about by wildfires in Canada and supply disruptions in other oil-producing countries. But gasoline demand regularly increases leading into the summer driving season. In a weekly report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, gasoline demand hit its highest mark of the year at 9.66 million barrels per day, which was the highest number since August and 4.4 percent higher than the same period last year.

The nation’s top five most expensive states for gasoline are: California ($2.80), Hawaii ($2.67), Washington ($2.55), Alaska ($2.52) and Nevada ($2.48).

The nation’s top five least expensive states are: Arkansas ($1.99), Texas ($1.99), Louisiana ($2.00), Mississippi ($2.00) and Oklahoma ($2.00).