A spring surge in gas prices has drivers digging deeper to pay at the pump in the Garden State and around the nation.

AAA Mid-Atlantic says the average price of a gallon of regular gas in New Jersey was $2.63 Friday, up six cents from a week ago - and above the $2.61 a gallon at this time a year ago.

The national average gas price Friday was $2.61 a gallon, up eight cents from last week and two cents above the national average of $2.59 a year ago.

Analysts say drivers should expect prices to keep rising as demand for gasoline increases, refineries continue seasonal maintenance and stations switch over to more expensive summer-blend gasoline, which has a lower volatility to limit evaporative emissions that normally increase with warm weather.