Motorists are seeing sharply higher prices at the pumps in New Jersey.

AAA Mid-Atlantic says the average price of regular gasoline in the Garden State on Friday was $2.78, up 5 cents from a week ago.

That’s also higher than a year ago, when New Jersey motorists were paying $2.53.

Meanwhile, the national average price rose 6 cents to $2.88. That’s also higher than the national average from a year ago, which was $2.65.

AAA Mid-Atlantic says the rising prices are again due to the weak U.S. dollar and recent surges in the price of crude oil, which has been trading above $85 a barrel in recent weeks.

Higher oil prices mean refiners pay more for crude to make gasoline and other refined products.

(Source: NJ Star Ledger)