UNDATED (WKZO-AM) — At the same time that gas prices cracked the $2 barrier nationally, gas prices in west Michigan are up again.
Now, the average in both west Michigan and the rest of the nation is about $1.99 a gallon.
Patrick Dehaan with GasBuddy.com blames refinery problems for the rise in Michigan. However, he also says prices are still lower than this time last year, and nationally, crude prices hit a new 11 year low on Monday.
“A lot it is the drop in crude oil prices that we’ve seen since July and also a combination of seasonal drops in gasoline demand,” DeHaan said.
Global oil analyst Anarita Sen says it’s not just production in the U.S. that’s driving crude prices down.
“The El Nino effect is having a very negative impact on oil and gas this winter,” Sen said.
DeHaan predicts we could see prices as low as $1.45 before gas prices bottom out this spring.
– John McNeill
