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As if you do not know this already, the government says that gasoline prices have gone up over 31 cents per gallon in the past month to an average $2.51 because of crude oil price increases. Uncle Sam does say that the price will probably not rise as much as it usually does this time of year because of a slowing economy. Source
Was it not to long ago that the public was hearing that the US economy was in great shape? I have been through a few slowdowns in the past and I do not remember those times keeping our prices at the pumps from going up slowly. In fact, they seemed to have shot up no matter what the rest of the economy was doing so why should this be any different at this time?
Pushing up gasoline prices in the weeks ahead will be stronger fuel use as highway travel gets a spring boost.
"Fuel demand increases, that puts upward pressure on prices," said Tancred Lidderdale, an analyst with the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Energy Department's analytical arm.
Refineries will also switch to less-polluting gasoline required by the government during warmer months, which costs more to make and adds five to seven cents at the pump, according to Lidderdale.
