WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased the first week of March by 7.1 cents from the previous week to reach 199.9 cents per gallon March 7 -- 26.1 cents higher than this time last year, the Energy Department reported.

Prices were up across all regions, with the Midwest seeing the largest gain of 9.1 cents to reach 200.9 cents per gallon, said the department's Energy Information Administration (EIA). The West Coast posted the highest regional price of 217.4 cents per gallon, up 5.1 cents from the previous week and 14.8 cents higher than last year. Prices in California gained 5.3 cents to 222.9 cents per gallon. Retail prices on the East Coast gained 6.3 cents to 195.2 cents per gallon, which is 24.7 cents higher than last year.