AP file photo - A customer pumps gas at a gas station.

DEARBORN — Travelers are now paying an average of $2.81 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel in Michigan, which is less than last year, but on the rise during the holiday season.

This price is $0.09 less than this time last month and $0.22 cents less than this time last year.

Motorists are paying an average of $42 for a full 15-gallon tank of gasoline; a discount of about $15 from 2024’s highest price last July.

“Michigan drivers traveling for the holidays are seeing an increase in prices at the pump,” said Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson, AAA-The Auto Club Group.

Compared to last week, Metro Detroit’s average daily gas price increased slightly. Metro Detroit’s current average is $2.81 per gallon, about $0.01 more than last week’s average but still $ 0.22 less than this same time last year. The most expensive gas prices in the state were in Jackson where a gallon on gasoline was $2.92, while the cheapest cost per gallon was in Traverse City where is was $2.55.