Gas prices in the area just keep climbing, and at $3.39 per gallon the area average for regular grade at cash price is 4 cents higher than it was last week.

The cheapest gas around will run drivers $3.33 per gallon, but if there's any consolation it can at least be found at two locations -- Gulf on Route 35 at Allaire Road in Wall and Lukoil on Route 71 in Manasquan.

The only station from Brielle to Belmar to lower its prices since last week was the Getty on Main Street in Belmar, which dropped its prices by 2 cents, but at $3.44 per gallon it's still among the most expensive in the area.

Only two stations are charging more than the Main Street Getty, one of which is also in Belmar. Shell on Route 35 in Belmar and Gulf on Route 35 at Sea Girt Avenue in Wall are both charging $3.45 per gallon.

Here are this week's prices, collected Sunday night, beginning with the least expensive:

• Gulf - Route 35 (at Allaire Road), Wall - $3.33 (+.06)
• Lukoil – Route 71 (near Blakey Avenue), Manasquan - $3.33 (+.02)
• Exxon – Route 71 (at Warren Avenue), Spring Lake Heights - $3.35 (+.02)
• Gulf – Route 71 (at Wall Road), Spring Lake Heights - $3.37 (+.05)
• Getty – Route 71 (at Wall Road), Spring Lake Heights - $3.37 (+.05)
• Sunoco – Route 35 (at Old Mill Road), Wall – $3.38 (+.06)
• BP – Route 35 (near Warren Avenue), Wall - $3.39 (+.10)
• Sunoco – Route 71 (at Warren Avenue), Spring Lake Heights - $3.39 (+.06)
• Ocean Star Fuel – Route 71 (at Curtis Avenue), Manasquan - $3.39 (.00)
• Exxon – Route 35 (at 18^th Avenue), Wall - $3.41 (+.06)
• Hess – Route 70 (near Riverview Drive), Wall - $3.41 (+.00)
• Exxon – Route 71 (at Main Street), Manasquan - $3.43 (+.06)
• Lukoil – Route 70 (at Old Bridge Road), Brielle - $3.43 (+.02)
• Getty – Main Street (at 16^th Avenue), Belmar - $3.44 (-.02)
• Gulf – Route 35 (at Sea Girt Avenue), Wall - $3.45 (+.06)
• Shell – Route 35 (at Belmar Boulevard), Belmar - $3.45 (.00)