Area gas prices on Monday up 9 cents from week ago

Wichita area gas prices are on the rise, hitting an average of $1.70 on Monday morning, according to website Gasbuddy.

The price is up about 9 cents from a week ago.

But Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst, said prices may fall again before the seasonal price increases closer to spring.

“For any Americans that made resolutions to try and spend less at the pump this year, I think they will be in good shape to achieve that,” DeHaan said in a statement. “The fundamentals of oil remain weak which will contribute to low oil prices for some time, while gasoline demand will likely move lower now with the holidays behind us, putting downward pressure on gasoline prices.”

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 10:14 AM with the headline "Area gas prices on Monday up 9 cents from week ago."