Families planning trips for summer vacation might be shocked to pay $3 when fueling at the pump.
On March 9, the U.S. Energy Information Administration released a short-term energy outlook, which included pump prices for upcoming seasons. The Administration predicted the average U.S. price for gas likely will exceed $3 per gallon at times during the 2010 spring and summer driving season.
Though Missouri's gas prices tend to be on the lower side of national averages, Missourians will not be an exception to this rising gas trend. According to Missouri’s March 4 Energy Bulletin, the statewide average retail price was already up 13 cents from the past month, and up 73 cents per from previous year.
But sometimes the variables that impact the prices of gasoline at the pump are hard to gauge.
“It’s impossible to predict what the price will be,” Michael Right, Vice President of Public Affairs for AAA, said.
Ron Leone, Executive Director for the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, agreed. “No matter what the price is, no matter how bad it is, it’s usually lower here in Missouri,” he added.
According to the Energy Information Administration's report, gasoline prices also tend to increase during the spring and summer seasons. This can be attributed to good weather and vacations, which makes heavier drive seasons. The summer gasoline demand can be up to 5 percent higher than other seasons, the Administration reported.
The current average for gas prices in Missouri, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge report, is $2.60 per gallon. If the prediction proves to be true it will increase, but Right believes the increase prediction is based on “speculation that there will be a high demand for gas worldwide.”