Gas prices likely to keep creeping up in Utah, nation

Fuel » Cost is up nearly 50 cents in Utah in past month but still below U.S. average.

staff and news services

First Published Mar 12 2012 05:45 pm • Last Updated Mar 13 2012 08:04 am

The average price of gasoline nationally jumped by nearly a nickel over the weekend and is up 12 cents in the past week in Utah.

At $3.80 per gallon, the U.S. price is at its highest ever for this time of year. Pump prices have risen an average 52 cents nationally this year and are up nearly 50 cents in the past month in the state as refineries and wholesalers pass along the higher cost of crude oil. And this month they’re getting an additional boost as investors bet that supplies will shrink ahead of the summer driving season.

It’s an easy bet to make, independent commodities trader Jim Ritterbusch said. Supplies tend to fall in April as refineries sell off their existing gasoline inventories to make room for a different blend that’s required in the summer. And driving tends to go up in the summer as schools go on vacation.

"Every year between March and May, you have a lot of people buying into this market," Ritterbusch said. "They’re trying to stay ahead of the crowd" and buy gasoline while it is still relatively cheap.

The Oil Price Information Service says the average U.S. price could rise as high as $4.25 per gallon. Prices will likely peak in late April, then fall through the summer as gasoline markets look ahead to a slowdown in travel during the fall.

Already drivers in Illinois, New York, Michigan, Connecticut, Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia are paying prices around or above the $4 mark. California drivers are paying an average of $4.36 per gallon.

Drivers in Hawaii are paying the most, at $4.44 per gallon, while those in Wyoming are paying the least, at $3.30 per gallon. Prices vary throughout the U.S. because of differing state taxes, transportation costs and other regional expenses.

Oil prices fell Monday after Chinese trade data suggested a weakening global economy. China reported a slowdown in growth in both imports and exports in its February trade data over the weekend.

Benchmark West Texas Intermediate gave up $1.06 to end at $106.34 per barrel in New York. Brent crude fell by 64 cents to end at $125.34 per barrel in London.

Natural gas dipped to a new 10-year low, falling by 5.5 cents to end at $2.27 per 1,000 cubic feet. Natural gas prices have plummeted this year thanks to a recent boom in production and weak heating demand this winter.

In other energy trading, heating oil fell by 2 cents to finish at $3.24 per gallon and gasoline futures gave up nearly a penny to end at $3.32 per gallon.

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