The average price for a gallon of gasoline in Bellingham continues to close in on $4 a gallon, according to AAA Washington.

AAA's daily fuel gauge report estimates the average price for a gallon of unleaded gas in Bellingham was $3.96 on Monday, March 4. That's up 8 cents from a week before and 29 cents compared to a month ago. It is 14 cents lower than a year ago, when the BP Cherry Point fire led to a spike in prices across the West Coast.

Bellingham's average price remains the highest among Washington's major metro areas. Seattle is the next highest, at $3.88 a gallon. The least expensive is in Spokane, at $3.44 a gallon.

The average price for a gallon of diesel in Bellingham was $4.29 on March 4, up 2 cents from last week but down 19 cents compared to a year ago.

Reach Business Editor Dave Gallagher at 360-715-2269 or dave.gallagher@bellinghamherald.com. Read his business blog at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/business or follow him on Twitter at @bhamheraldbiz.