AUGUSTA (AP) — A nationwide surge in gas prices is hitting Maine residents particularly hard.

Price-monitoring website MaineGasPrices.com reports Monday that the average retail cost of a gallon of gas in Maine has soared nearly 16 cents in the past week. That compares to a nationwide jump of almost 12 cents per gallon.

Maine residents are now paying an average of $3.69 per gallon at the pump, 7 cents above the national average.

In-state prices are now 17 cents per gallon higher than on the same day a year ago and more than 13 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.

A company analyst says prices are rising because of political unrest in Egypt and large declines of crude oil inventories.

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