The price at the pump has jumped 3 cents from yesterday, bringing the statewide average price for regular gasoline to $2.82 per gallon. Don Redman with AAA says gas prices rise at this time of the year as refineries shut down operations to switch from a winter blend to a summer blend gasoline.
“Summer blend gasoline isn’t as volatile. It burns cleaner and is more expensive to refine. What really drives that price up is a periodic closing of refineries,” Redman said.
Redman says while gas prices are up from last month’s average, compared to this time last year, prices are down, but be prepared for gas prices to keep rising.
“This time last year, we were paying $3.15 a gallon, so we’re still looking better. I think, though, there could be more movement upwards for gas prices as we get into May,” Redman said.
Even though we can expect prices to continue to rise heading into the summer driving season, Redman says gas prices are much higher in other states.
“Seems cringeworthy, but when you look at what’s paying in the west coast, they’re already at $4 dollars, California’s nearly at $5 dollars a gallon. I think, all of a sudden, it looks like a bargain paying $3 dollars a gallon in Louisiana,” Redman said.
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