The price of gasoline continues to rise in New Jersey. AAA Mid-Atlantic says the average price of regular hit $2.64 in the Garden State on Friday, which is the highest its been this year. That’s also up from $2.52 a month ago and $1.78 a year ago. Meanwhile, the national average price is $2.81 … the highest its been since late October 2008. That’s also up from $2.61 a month ago and $1.93 a year ago. “The increased cost of fuel is a strain for many consumers who haven’t fully recovered from the ravages of the recession,” auto club spokeswoman Tracy E. Noble said. “Gas prices tend to pass the winter in a dormant state, but by mid-March prices normally begin trending upward, as we are seeing now.” AP