PORTLAND, Maine — Gas prices in Maine inched up in the past week, but national forecasts estimate that relatively low prices will put transportation expenses this summer at their lowest level since 2003.

The price tracking website GasBuddy reported the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Maine rose about 1 cent in the past week, up to $2.29. The national average dipped slightly, to $2.21 in the past week.





Gregg Laskoski, a petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, said in a news release that he expects the price will continue to rise through the summer as demand increases due to vacation travel.

“In 2015 we saw the national average peak in June and the year before it peaked in April, so while the current plateau may seem encouraging for motorists, we still expect rising consumer demand to elevate gasoline prices as we approach the beginning of the summer driving season,” Laskoski said.

Across the East Coast, the U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that the summer price will average $1.98, compared with $2.53 last year. For the year, the agency’s projections put the annual average around $1.91.

[tableau server=”public.tableau.com” workbook=”Eastcoastgasforecast” view=”Gasforecast?:showVizHome=no” tabs=”no” toolbar=”yes” revert=”” refresh=”” linktarget=”” width=”100%” height=”435px”][/tableau]

GasBuddy reported the average prices last week in Vermont and New Hampshire were slightly lower than in Maine, at $2.28 and $2.18, respectively.