If it seems like the price of gasoline is rising quickly and at an odd time of year, that is because it is true. The average price of a gallon of regular gas in the U.S. rose 5.1% or 17 cents to $3.50 per gallon today according to auto and travel group AAA.

This marks the first monthly increase since March and the largest July increase in at least a dozen years. The average price of gas in July was $3.42 a gallon. This was the third-highest average price for July ever recorded. AAA began keeping the fuel-price data in 2000.

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