Phila.-area gas prices unchanged

Let the rains come, but at least the price of gas isn't going anywhere.

The average for a gallon of regular in the five-county Philadelphia area remained at $2.72 overnight, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

South Jersey's average was still hanging in at $2.51.

The national average remained at $2.63.

The diesel average slipped by 1 cent overnight (to $3.03) in the Philly area, but was unchanged in South Jersey ($2.71) and in the country overall ($2.82).

Meanwhile, oil prices climbed above $73 a barrel, tugged higher mostly by a rising stock market and a falling dollar.

Benchmark crude for January delivery added 67 cents to $73.29 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude for January delivery rose a penny to $75.20 on the ICE Futures exchange.

In other Nymex trading in January contracts, heating oil lost less than a penny to $1.983 a gallon while gasoline lost less than a penny to $1.9225 a gallon. Natural gas gave up 5.7 cents to $5.057 per 1,000 cubic feet.