Washington gas prices surge while other states see drop

The useful part

Drivers across Washington are paying more at the pump as gas prices continue their upward climb while more than half the country saw relief while filling up heading into the busy Labor Day weekend. Washington's average for gasoline reached $5.37 per gallon on Tuesday, data shows. "Motorists should expect continued volatility in the weeks ahead," wrote Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, in a blog post Monday.

How it works

• Seattle area drivers paid an average of $5.57, while the highest average for gasoline in the state was $6.26 in San Juan County as of Tuesday, data shows.
• Many local motorists face even higher prices depending on where they fill up.
• The state's current gas prices are significantly higher than average national costs, at $4.10 per gallon as of Tuesday.
• "Average gasoline prices fell in slightly more than half of states over the last week while diesel declined in roughly half, as oil prices moved lower and offered some modest relief at the pump," De Haan said.