Gas prices have gone up 13 cents nationally in the past week and 30 cents in the past year. Experts say it's not really shocking.
“They typically go up somewhat in the beginning of the year anyway," says Triple AAA Travel Manager Sue Boate. "After the first of the year they typically rise a little bit. And they were held down a fairly well in December which is a happy surprise. So that’s why we see them go up. And then the unemployment numbers were down a little bit from December. That doesn’t really help gas prices, they could go up because of that, too.”
Driver Vertigo Moody says he knows exactly what to do when driving gets expensive:
“I don’t drive as much, so I don’t go on as many weekend trips out of town as I used to. I also try to make sure I do all my errands to and from work, so once I get home, I’m home. I don’t have to drive anywhere.”
Higher crude oil prices mean higher prices for you when you go to fill up your tank and that in turn is fueled by some issues outside our borders: worries over a delay in oil supply from Iran's Strait of Hormuz and possible conflict with Iran.
“But there may be hope," says Boate, "because unfortunately the European economy situation helps us with gas prices because the demand is lower there and so that may keep the demand a little down."
Back in the states, Moody says he spends about 10 to 15 dollars more than he did a month ago on gas. But he's not phased.
“Until it gets up to that four dollar range, I probably won’t change my habits much right now.”
It's still too early to predict that much of a rise, but until then experts continue to advise conservation.