UNITED STATES -- We're just about three full months into 2012, and gas prices have gone up 19 percent in that time. AAA reports the national average for a gallon of gas is up to $3.93 on Friday.

That's less than 20 cents away from the all-time highest average ever. That was $4.11 in July of 2008.

New York state is much closer that with an average of $4.08 on Friday. Gas is just a few cents cheaper in the Capital Region at $4.03.