Utah gas prices have been heading upward steadily since fall but have leveled off slightly during the busy holiday travel period.

According to utahgasprices.com, as of Thursday the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the state of Utah was $2.99, a five cent jump from $2.94 per gallon at the beginning of November, but still lower than the $3.07 average price recorded on Dec. 2.

In Tooele, the lowest price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline on Thursday was $2.93 at the Tooele Maverik Country Store on 2000 North. Wal-Mart was second-lowest at $2.95, with the 7-Eleven on Main Street third-lowest at $2.96.

The Chevron station on Main Street had the highest price per gallon for regular gasoline in Tooele at $3.05.

In Grantsville, Jay's Sinclair Service Station, the Grantsville Way Station and Anderson's Handy Corner were all at $2.99 per gallon. In Lake Point, the Flying J matched the lowest price in the valley at $2.93.

According to a recent AAA Fuel Gauge Report, Utah's fuel prices are now just slightly higher than the national average of $2.98.

"While most of the country's gas prices went down in November, Utah was one of the few states in the country where prices went up," said Utah AAA spokesperson Rolayne Fairclough.

Fairclough also said gas prices have decreased elsewhere in the country during the wintertime because of lower demand and travel time.

"Traditionally prices will go down this time of year because the demand has decreased with people not taking long drives," she said. "Usually, gas prices are the highest in the summer and the lowest in the winter."

Unlike other states, which may be dependent on oil from outside of the country, almost all oil used in Utah is produced in Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and Western Canada.

"Utah also hasn't had a problem with its supply because it's all domestic," Fairclough said.

Tooele County's high point for regular gasoline prices in 2007 was $3.26 per gallon, recorded back in late May, which then fell to a low of $2.65 in mid-September before slowly climbing back upward.

Doug Radunich: dougrad@tooeletranscript.com