The national average price of gasoline continued its upward climb, rising three cents to $3.579 per gallon for the week ending March 31, according to federal data.

The price of gasoline has increased in nine consecutive weeks since early February, but remains lower than the same week a year ago, when it cost 6.6 cents more, reports the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Gasoline rose in eight of the 10 regions tracked. The sharpest hike came in the Lower Atlantic region where it rose 5.9 cents. The Central Atlantic and Rocky Mountain regions fell slightly. Gasoline now costs at least $3.50 per gallon in 29 states, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

Meanwhile, the price of diesel fuel fell 1.3 cents to $3.975 per gallon. Diesel, which remained above the $4-per-gallon level for four weeks ending March 17, is now 1.8 cents lower than it was a year ago.