Get Ready…Spring / Summer Gas Prices Already On The Rise

I filled up my gas the other day, since it was just about empty, and I was kind of surprised to see that I'd put over $30 worth of good old unleaded down the gas hole. Maybe I've gotten sort of blindly used to the more comfortable gas prices we've had the last couple years. But I remember a year or two ago, I actually got gas for something like $1.99 a gallon. The other day I paid $2.83!!

I know I'm super naive, but to this day I don't understand why gas has to fluctuate so much. I'[m sure someone could give me a proper economic explanation about why it's happening, but really, I don't care. I just want to keep things normal. But it looks like we're headed up as the weeks go on.

According to a post from WGME TV 13, in the past week alone, gas has risen $.07 nationally to $2.90. I feel like it's right on pace with that in my neighborhood. Right now, the highest in the nation is San Francisco at $3.73, and the lowest is Baton Rouge, LA at $2.45. Granted, we're nowhere near the crunch of 2011 when even around here we were over $4.50 a gallon, but what's to stop that from happening again? I get the basics of how it works, demand goes down, prices fall. Demand goes up, prices soar.

This will undoubtedly have a ripple effect. As oil goes up, gas and diesel go up, jet fuel goes up, then plane tickets go up.....you see where this is all headed. Crude oil has been going up in price, and as we phase in summer gasoline, which helps with emissions, expect prices to climb. But it's anyone's guess where the ceiling will be.

I know there's nothing we can do about it, but sheesh, a little consistency would be nice. Oh wait, there is. Consistently up! But still, I probably won't cancel any road trips just yet, but I sure am gonna feel it when I see my bank statement!