The national average pump price of gasoline is expected to stay below $3 per gallon during 2015.

In its new monthly forecast, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said the retail price for regular gasoline should average $2.33 per gallon this year. The price of gasoline increased in early February after falling for 17 weeks in a row.

But gasoline prices will continue to remain low in 2015 when compared with pump prices in recent years because of expected low crude oil costs.

As a result, the average U.S. household is expected to save $750 in gasoline costs this year compared with 2014.

Gasbuddy.com says the nation-wide average for a gallon of regular is $2.22, a 7-cent increase in the past week.

In Texas, its $2.06, up a dime this week; Louisiana is up to $2.06, a 9-cent rise.

Locally, the lowest in Center this morning is $2.08 at several stations, a ten-cent increase in the past week.