Delaware’s average price for a gallon of regular gas rose 13 cents from March 1 to March 6 and has risen more than 30 cents from the first of February, with likely no long-term relief in sight as the high-demand summer traveling season steadily approaches.
Delawareans, on average, are now paying $2.45 for a gallon of regular unleaded, the most expensive rate since September last year.
“What we have is a perfect storm that has translated into higher gas prices,” said Ela Voluck, AAA spokeswoman. “There’s no reason for consumers to think we’re going to revisit $3 gallon this spring.”
The “perfect storm” to which Voluck referred consists of changes to “summer-blend” fuel that caused some drops in production, global tension highlighted by Iran’s refusal to end its nuclear program (which has contributed to the highest crude oil prices of the year — $61 earlier this week) and an unusually cold February.
Cold temperatures cause high demand for heating oil; drops in production cause low supply levels; and although the United States does not import fuel from Iran, issues there cause changes in the global marketplace.
Average prices nationally have also risen more than 30 cents since Feb 1. Voluck said that while Delawareans should not expect drastic changes this spring that would push prices near $3, prices will rise as summer nears and throughout the high-travel, high-demand season.
Prices hit $3.12 per gallon of regular unleaded on July 18, 2006 — the most expensive average recorded here last year. The most expensive national average last year — $3.04 — was recorded on Aug. 7.
“When warmer weather really sets in, people start thinking vacation,” Voluck said, “and the demand does go up. You really see the demand pick up and affect prices.”
Average prices fell more than $1 from July’s high to $2.11 in late October. They remained relatively steady into December. In December, though, averages rose 16 cents from $2.21 a gallon to $2.37 before taking a contrasting turn. On Jan. 1, prices sat at $2.36 and fell steadily to $2.11 on Jan. 31, where they stayed for eight days before again making an unpredictable and likely frustrating move.
From Feb. 8, when prices remained unusually steady at $2.11, averages rose 34 cents through March 6, the recent five-day 13-cent jump being the most dramatic..