Massachusetts gas prices up 21 cents in a week, now at record high $4.60 a gallon

BOSTON - Gas prices in Massachusetts started the week at a record high $4.60 a gallon, AAA said Monday.

That's up two cents since Sunday and 21 cents in the last week.

A year ago, it was $2.91 a gallon, $1.69 less.

"The high cost of crude oil, the key ingredient in gasoline, continues to push up pump prices dramatically for consumers," said AAA spokeswoman Mary Maguire. "Even the annual seasonal demand dip for gasoline that we typically see between spring break and Memorial Day--which would normally help lower prices--is having no effect this year."

The national average is $4.48 a gallon, which is also a record, according to AAA.

California has the highest prices in the country, with an average of $5.98 a gallon.

Diesel prices are also at a record high of $6.37 a gallon in Massachusetts Monday.