Gas Prices Spike Overnight

(KNSI) — Gas prices shot up overnight, continuing the trend drivers have seen in the last month.

A gallon of regular unleaded Monday in Minnesota cost around $3.13. Today, it’s at $3.21, an increase of eight cents. A month ago, the statewide average was $2.98. Around St. Cloud, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded on Monday was $3.06. Tuesday, it was $3.18. A month ago, it was hovering around $2.83.

The petroleum prognosticators with AAA say the late December winter storm that brought frigid temperatures to the southern U.S. caused refineries in Texas and along the Gulf Coast to shutter temporarily. That, coupled with “robust gas demand” from people taking to the roads for Christmas and to escape bad weather across the country, led to the spike.

Experts say the return to seasonal driving patterns and better weather should cause prices to fall; however, “As we head toward February, pump prices will likely dip, barring any jolt in the global oil market,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “But it is likely that the national average prices we saw heading into Christmas may have been the lows for this winter.”