WEST PALM BEACH- For the 9th day in a row, gas prices inched higher Wednesday with the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline now at $4.504 a gallon statewide.

In West Palm Beach the average price is $4.649, a four cent increase over last month.

Kansas has the lowest price per gallon at $4.044 and California is the highest in the nation, topping $6 per gallon.

At this time last year, the average price for a gallon of regular was $2.887 for West Palm Beach according to AAA.

The rising cost of fuel has been hitting both consumers and suppliers with yesterday’s stock market slide being partially attributed to the higher cost of fuel being borne by retailers.

Prices are expected to continue climbing.