gas prices as they saw last year. the average per gallon of regular unleaded is $3.66 a gallon, compared to last year where it was $3.63, but many parts of the country are actually seeing lower gas prices. back here in atlanta, air travelers are seeing a 6% increase in airfares this year compared to last year. if it s not one thing, it s another. a massive wildfire in alaska is causing mandatory evacuations. the funny river fire threatens 1,000 structures. that fire is 30% contained. meanwhile, firefighters in northern arizona appear to be turning a corner on lts so-called slide fire there. they have now contained 25% of the blaze and controlled burns have kept the flames from reaching homes. bill karins joins us right now.
about the same gas prices as they did last year. the national average is about $3.66 a gallon. compare that to last year when it was $3.63 for a gallon of regular unleaded. but most parts of the country will be seeing slightly lower gas prices. back here in atlanta, not any major problems. airfares will be up about 6% on average this year. richard, back to you. all right. good to hear there s no delay there is. amazing it s the busiest airport in the world. it s often quite calm in atlanta. appreciate that. it is no holiday for 1200 firefighters out west battling the slide fire in arizona. they are slowly making progress this morning containing about 10% of the blaze and igniting controlled burns to keep the flames from reaching homes. that fire now about 20 square miles large. meanwhile, there is a fire ten times that size scorching parts of alaska.
we appreciate it. coming up, a side of john f. kennedy you haven t seen before. the individual why from just before his assassination. and it s been kept a secret for more than 50 years. and then we re going across the country highlighting some of the hardest workers who are waking up just like you at this early hour. up first, the farm. and a quick look at the price you re paying at the pump today. national average $3.63 a gallon. hey! did you know that honey nut cheerios
price of gas has jumped, again, eight cents identify two weeks and the latest survey released today shows the average price for regular is now $3.63 and mid-grade is $3.85 and premium average is $3.95 gallon. chicago has the most expensive gas in the country right now at $4.10 a gallon. heather: a stomach bug is spreading across the country. find out what the virus is being linked to and how you can avoid it. a swarm of bees killing two horses and seriously injuring a couple. we will tell you where that happened. [ phil ] when you have joint pain and stiffness.
reporter: the two most important things in all this hot weather, staying hydrated and cool. easy to do here at the minus 5 ice bar where steamy new yorkers are instantly transported to the arctic. lana zach, abc news, new york. i m jealous of that assignment. a day at the bar? you go, girl. well, drivers are feeling more pain at the pump with gas prices up 15 cents in just a week. the average price for a gallon of gas now stands at $3.63 a gallon, and they are expected to shoot up another 15 cents by the end of the month. a big supply of domestic oil is not helping things actually because it s costly and subject to strict regulations. aaa says gas will probably never again, listen to that, never again dip below 3 bucks a gallon. in a rare move toward bipartisan cooperation, the senate has confirmed the first of seven pending nominations to the obama administration. the appointee is richard cordray as director of the consumer financial protection bureau.