Gas prices eke upwards

Gas prices are continuing a slow but steady climb across metro Atlanta this week.

Atlanta’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded Wednesday was $1.75, up a fraction of a penny from Tuesday but 9 cents a gallon higher than a week ago. That price is 23 cents a gallon more than one month ago, according to atlantagasprices.com.

Gas prices in metro Atlanta bottomed out at about $1.45 a gallon in late December, after several months of decline.

Atlanta’s current price is 7 cents a gallon cheaper than the national average, the Web site said.

Metro Atlanta’s lowest price reported by the Web site early Wednesday was $1.57 a gallon at a Marathon station in Norcross, followed by $1.59 at a Chevron in Canton and $1.61 at a Lawrenceville Exxon station.