RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – The North Carolina gas tax is increasing from 37.5 cents per gallon to 37.6 cents per gallon.

The Department of Revenue says the new rate for the motor fuels tax on gasoline, diesel and alternative fuels starts July 1 and lasts through 2013. The tax is computed using a flat rate of 17.5 cents per gallon and a variable of the average wholesale price of motor fuel during the last six months.

The average wholesale price is a weighted average of the wholesale prices of gasoline and No. 2 diesel fuel.  The average price for the last period was $2.8743 cents per gallon.

A new rate will go into effect in January 2014.

Consumers at retail locations pay the tax. The money then goes to the department.