Gas prices are on the rise. GasBuddy.com says in the Rochester area we are averaging about $2.53 a gallon right now, which is up about six cents over the last week. That's a trend that's been going on nationwide, partly due to the usual seasonal change at the refineries who are getting ready to make a summer blend of fuel.
Petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says one issue is one that happens every spring, when manufacturers have to switch their refineries over to the summer blend of fuel.
But he says the harsh winter also caused problems.
“In fact several refineries on the East Coast, one in Philadelphia, have been forced to temporarily shut down because of the frozen Delaware River. These kinds of issues can result in less gasoline being produced and then impact gas prices.”
DeHaan believes gas prices will continue to rise for the next several weeks, to just under three dollars a gallon, but then level off after that.
Gas prices locally are still sharply lower than where they were a year ago, when the average price was about $3.71 a gallon.
