WASHINGTON — Despite the dismal economy, motorists may want to take to the road this summer. The federal government says gasoline prices are expected to stay relatively low.

Pump patrol:Find the lowest gas prices in the Indianapolis area.

The Energy Information Administration on Tuesday projected regular-grade gasoline to average $2.23 a gallon during the April-September driving season. The monthly average is likely to peak at $2.30 a gallon. That’s still a bargain compared with last summer, when gasoline cost an average of $3.81 a gallon and soared for a time past $4.

In recent weeks gas prices have edged higher from their lows in December. Last week, gasoline averaged $2.05 a gallon. The energy agency attributed the increases to slightly higher crude oil costs and refiners trying to recoup some profits.