CHICAGO (WKZO) –Gas prices have jumped up 30 to 40-cents to $2.19/gallon, and this may be just the first of a series of gasonline price hikes as the spring and the summer driving season approaches.
GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan says crude oil prices continue to drop but gas prices are no longer tied to the price of crude.
He says refiners have cut back on production because of the weather and for maintenance.
In a month or two, refineries will switch over to the summer blends which will also increase the cost.
DeHaan doubts we will see gas for under $2/gallon for a while.
As DeHaan says, gas prices may be up a few dimes from last week, but it’s still hard to complain about it. Its still more than a dollar lower than this time last year.
He says this is normally the slowest time of the year for gasoline demand, and this week’s blizzard in the northeast will mean even less gas will be used nationally.
