Rose Rougeau Year Quotations

This is the time of year when steep price increases are common, but this year, there is added uncertainty about whether there will be sufficient gasoline supplies later in the year. It may be several weeks before the picture of the nation's production becomes clear, but in the meantime, motorists may experience steadily rising pump prices.

Conditions indicate that motorists may see slight increases in retail gasoline prices within the next few days. Typically, pump prices in Texas move lower during this time of year due to a decrease in demand, but with crude oil trading around $63 a barrel that has yet to happen.

Retail gasoline prices have moved higher against a backdrop of increased crude oil prices. A year ago, crude oil traded at $49 a barrel and gas prices averaged $1.792--49 cents lower than the current average of $2.283. This week, crude hovers around $66 a barrel.