"Yikes," AAA Utah spokeswoman Rolayne Fairclough said of the record, which was attributed to concerns about the standoff over Iran's nuclear ambitions, rebel disruptions of oil production in Nigeria and tight U.S. gasoline supplies.
A gallon of unleaded gasoline in Utah cost $2.53 Saturday, 23 cents higher than a month ago and 26 cents higher than a year ago, according to AAA Utah. Still, the state is faring better than most of the rest of the country - the national average Saturday was $2.88 a gallon, an increase of 37 cents from a month ago and a whopping 67 cents from a year ago.
Costco customers, on the other hand, were paying $2.39 for regular and $2.59 for premium Saturday.
"For the last couple of months, we've been like this every single day," attendant Brittany Roberts said. "But, yeah, when the prices go up, they're packed deep in here."
A steady stream of cars and trucks pulled into the Chevron service station at 2100 South and 300 West in South Salt Lake on Saturday to fill up for $2.59 a gallon for regular.
"I think it's price gouging," Gary Keller said as he pumped almost $30 worth of gas into his Dodge Raider.
To save, the Salt Lake City resident said he has been running multiple errands at the same time and carpooling to work. "Other than that, what can you do?" he said before driving away.
Prices are forecast to continue rising through Memorial Day, Fairclough said, before dipping slightly. They are expected to jump even higher after that until around the Fourth of July, based on past trends.
Taylorsville resident Laurie Hackett poured premium gas into her tank at Costco without thinking twice about it.
"Truthfully, I don't care that much" about high gas prices, she said. "I just fill up on payday and it lasts me to the next payday. . . . I don't even look at the price."
Ute Cab driver Corey Larkin looks at the price though.
"They're killing us," he said.
Larkin, like other cabbies at Salt Lake City-based Ute Cab, is an independent driver and pays for his own gas. On average, Larkin gasses up his cab once a day for about $30. With the recent higher prices, though, it's creeping nearer to $40.
"It obviously affects the family, taking as much as 300 bucks [a month] out of my income," he said. ". . . You're talking about a big car payment or a small mortgage."
Larkin can still afford to pay his bills, he said, but must sometimes skimp on taking his kids to the movies or other outings when gas prices pinch his wallet. Switching jobs is not an option.
"This is what I do," Larkin said. "I'm not going to quit my job."
Ute Cab dispatcher Jim Curtis sympathizes with the drivers. The company provides maintenance for the cabs, but gas, car washes and airport fees are the driver's expense.
"It comes straight out of their pockets," he said. "That's money they could have taken home."
Even though prices are expected to escalate nationally this summer, Utah's motorists may see less of an increase than those in other states.
"In Utah, we are an insulated market - we have a pipeline that brings crude oil from Wyoming and five small refineries in North Salt Lake," John Hill said last week. Hill is the executive director of the Utah Petroleum Marketers & Retailers Association, a trade group made up of gas station and convenience store owners.
One casualty of the weekend gas increase was Utah's distinction as the state with the lowest gas prices, giving way to Wyoming's average of $2.52.
The cost of gas in neighboring Idaho topped off at $2.56. But in Nevada motorists were paying $2.90 a gallon on average. In Arizona it was $2.91, and California broke the $3 mark.
jbergreen@sltrib.com
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
