Gas Prices Expected to Rise
Thursday, January 3rd, 2013 -- 8:41 AM
-Gassing up has been a bit less painful lately, thanks to booming petroleum production in the U.S. and lower demand.But with the "fiscal cliff" mostly straightened out, some forecasts are calling for gasoline prices to begin rising again and to probably hit three and a half bucks later this year as the economy continues to recover and folks put more miles on their vehicles.
On Wednesday the average price for a gallon of regular was $3.21 statewide, according to AAA Wisconsin. That's 17 cents cheaper than a month ago.
Industry analysts are not anticipating pump prices to drop any lower but instead begin to steadily increase.
So motorists expecting fuel prices to dip below $3 will likely be disappointed. The last time Wisconsin drivers paid less than $3 at the pump was on Dec. 21, 2010, when the statewide average was $2.99. The next day it breached $3 and kept going.
When Congress agreed at the eleventh hour on a bill averting the "fiscal cliff," a return to a recession became less likely.
A recovering economy generally means more vehicles on roads, driving more miles which means a rise in gas prices.
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