MILWAUKEE — Drivers in Milwaukee are confronting gasoline prices above $5 a gallon, with regular fuel listed Sunday at $5.19 at BP stations near Plankinton Avenue and St. Paul Avenue in the Third Ward and near 12th Street and Highland Avenue. The statewide average for regular gasoline was about $4.45 a gallon, according to GasBuddy. That figure was up roughly 51 cents over the previous month and about $1.53 higher than Wisconsin’s average a year earlier, when regular fuel cost approximately $2.92 a gallon. The increase is being driven in part by turmoil in global oil markets. Experts cited attacks on oil infrastructure and disruptions to shipping in the Middle East, including uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for oil shipments. Those supply concerns have pushed crude oil prices to around $100 a barrel. A shutdown at ExxonMobil’s refinery in Joliet, Illinois, is also contributing to higher fuel costs across the Midwest by reducing regional refining capacity. The spike is likely to hit hardest for residents who have limited alternatives to driving, including commuters, delivery workers and households already facing high food and housing costs. While fuel rewards programs can reduce the price at participating stations, they require shoppers to spend money elsewhere before receiving the discount. Pick ’N Save and Metro Market said nearly 700 participating locations in Wisconsin allow customers to exchange grocery rewards points for discounts at certain BP and Amoco stations. The program can provide savings of up to $2 per gallon, or $70 per fill-up, according to a company spokesperson. Drivers can also compare prices through services such as GasBuddy and may find lower prices at warehouse clubs including Costco and Sam’s Club, which commonly sell fuel below the broader market average. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends avoiding rapid acceleration and hard braking, which can reduce fuel economy.