It's time again for our weekly gasoline update based on data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The price of Regular was up six cents from last week and Premium went up by five cents. According to GasBuddy.com, California has the highest average price for Regular at $3.53, and its averaging $3.65 in Los Angeles. South Carolina has the cheapest at $2.48.

How far are we from the interim high prices of 2011 and the all-time highs of 2008? Here's a visual answer.

The next chart is a monthly chart overlay of West Texas Light Crude, Brent Crude and unleaded gasoline end-of-day spot prices (GASO).

WTIC closed today at 59.52 a barrel, up 1.38 from last week but well off its 42.43 interim closing low on March 17th and now hovering in a relatively narrow range.

The volatility in crude oil and gasoline prices has been clearly reflected in recent years in both the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE). For additional perspective on how energy prices are factored into the CPI, see What Inflation Means to You: Inside the Consumer Price Index.

The chart below offers a comparison of the broader aggregate category of energy inflation since 2000, based on categories within Consumer Price Index (commentary here).

Here are some additional commentaries related to gasoline prices:

• Gasoline Volume Sales, Demographics and our Changing Culture
• Vehicle Miles Driven as an Economic Indicator