WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – That gasping noise you’re hearing is the sound of motorists as they watch their wallets empty out while they fill their gas tanks.

The Golden State’s average for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $4.36, up 51 cents since last month’s AAA report on February 14. For perspective, that’s 40 cents higher than California’s average price on this date last year. Among all 50 states, California has the second highest state average price for regular, unleaded gasoline. Hawaii is first and Alaska is third.
 
The Golden State’s average for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.36, up 51 cents since last month’s AAA report on Feb. 14.

For perspective, that’s 40 cents higher than California’s average price on this date last year. Among all 50 states, California has the second highest state average price for regular, unleaded gasoline. Hawaii is first and Alaska is third.
 
Northern California gas prices are now averaging $4.33, up 50 cents from last month.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, motorists can expect to pay an average price of $4.41, which is a 51-cent increase.

The national average price of $3.81 is up by 30 cents, which is 25 cents more than the national price on this date last year, when it was $3.56.
 
According to AAA, the biggest month-to-month price jump in Northern California metro areas tracked by the organization was in Salinas, which saw a 57 cent increase.

Over the past month, the pump prices have jumped by at least 41 cents in every single Northern California metro area tracked by AAA.
 
“Investors’ buying activity continues to be the dominate influence that is pushing prices higher,” said AAA Insurance spokesperson Matt Skryja. “Recent positive economic indicators in the United States and Europe have inspired investors to buy more oil and gas futures, which has helped to push up the price of oil and gas. However, there may be some relief in sight. Just yesterday, concerns over a slowing economy in China and easing tensions with Iran helped pull down the price of oil.”
 
That downward pull follows a steady stream of influences that have been causing oil prices to rise.

On Friday, reports surfaced that the European Union was nearing a positive resolution to the Greek sovereign debt crisis.

When this news was combined with positive U.S. jobs numbers, it inspired investor buying activity and propelled the price of crude back toward its high for the year.

All of this recent increased buying behavior comes at a time when demand for gasoline continues to be dismal.

A four-week average of Department of Energy figures last week showed that the United States was using a reported 8.355 million barrels per day.

To provide some context, five of the previous six years saw an average demand of 9 million barrels or more for the same period. This most recent report marked the lowest figure since March 2001.
 
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Marysville and Ukiah where regular is $3.25 per gallon in both metro areas.

Of all the metro areas in Northern California where gas prices are tracked by AAA, Eureka has the highest average price at $4.47. This is also the highest price in the lower 48 states.

The least expensive gasoline in the country is found in Casper, Wyoming.

The average price of gas in that metro area is $3.20. Hilo, Hawaii, holds the dubious crown for the highest average price in the nation, at $4.61 per gallon.