Gas prices continue to rise in Atlanta, averaging $3.50 for a regular gallon Saturday, and are only expected to rise into the spring.

"The national average has continued on its upward trend as we move closer to spring and EPA-mandated cleaner burning gasoline," said Patrick DeHaan, Senior Petroleum Analyst with gasbuddy.com. "The smaller movements in gasoline prices as of late in areas of the country will certainly not hold much longer. Gasoline prices tend to start moving significantly higher towards the end of February and into mid-March, so motorists should be preparing for higher prices."

The price of regular gas in Atlanta was $3.05 a year ago, according to AAA's Fuel Gauge Report.

While demand has decreased in the U.S. and overseas, concerns over debt issues in Greece and the European Union's plan to enact sanctions against Iran have kept oil barrel prices from dropping significantly, AAA Public Relations Director Nancy Whote said this week. Regardless, pump prices continue to rise.

The national average has increased 10.2 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 31.9 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago. Atlanta's average gasoline prices peaked in mid-May just shy of $4 a gallon, according to atlantagasprices.com.