BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Washington drivers are paying more at the pump this week.

GasBuddy reports the average price of regular gasoline in Washington rose 10-and-a-half cents over the past week to $5.06 a gallon. Prices are still nine cents lower than a month ago but remain more than 72 cents higher than a year ago.

In Bellingham, AAA data show gas prices average $4.93 a gallon, up more than 13 cents from last week.

Nationally, gas prices climbed nearly 11 cents to an average of $4.06 a gallon.

GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan said falling oil prices could slow further increases, but motorists should still expect gas prices to remain elevated.

“Average gasoline and diesel prices rose in nearly every state over the last week, as continued escalations between the U.S. and Iran, renewed Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and fresh Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries combined to keep upward pressure on both crude and refined product markets,” De Haan said in a statement.

“However, a weekend pullback in hostilities offered some relief, with oil prices opening sharply lower Sunday, suggesting the pace of increases at the pump may moderate in the days ahead,” he added. “For now, motorists should expect prices to remain elevated, but the intensity of further gains will depend heavily on how the geopolitical situation develops in the coming week.”