The average price of gasoline in Northeast Ohio has risen 8 cents this week, reaching $3.187 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average is up from $3.108 during the week of Feb. 10 and down from $3.311 during the same week last year.

In the Youngstown area, prices are slightly lower than the regional average. Gasoline is selling for $3.071 per gallon in Youngstown and $3.114 in Niles.

The increase comes as refineries begin the transition to summer blend fuel, a process that typically leads to higher prices at the pump. The national average price of gasoline is $3.16, up about five cents from a month ago and down 12 cents from a year ago.

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week to 8.57 million barrels per day from 8.32 million barrels per day. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 251.1 million barrels to 248.1 million barrels, while gasoline production averaged 9.3 million barrels daily.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed Wednesday at $71.37 a barrel, down $1.95. The EIA also reported that U.S. crude oil inventories increased by 4.1 million barrels from the previous week, totaling 427.9 million barrels. That figure is about 4% below the five-year average for this time of year.