PORTLAND - The price of gasoline took a breather this week in Oregon.

The AAA of Oregon says the average statewide price is up only a fraction of a cent - and a few city stations have actually reduced their prices.

But the AAA says that, nationally, prices in the next few weeks could easily be higher by a nickel to a dime a gallon.

A weekly sampling of prices at stations in Oregon cities averages $4.29 a gallon.

That's up four-tenths of a cent in the past week, 20 cents over the last month and more than $1.25 over the last year.

The Oregon average is 20 cents higher than the national average and is seventh highest in the nation.