No holiday break for gas prices in N.J. ahead of what could be a costly summer

Drivers in New Jersey and around the nation are getting much of a holiday break at prices at the pump.

AAA Mid-Atlantic says the average price of a gallon of regular gas in New Jersey was $ 2.81 Friday, up to five cents from a week ago and 19 cents higher than prices at this time a year ago.

The national average gas price Friday was $ 2.83 a gallon, up two cents from last week and higher than the national average of $ 2.74 a year ago

Analysts say demand for gasoline and the decrease in crude oil and gasoline supplies nationwide are still pushing prices higher.