Summer Gas Prices … No Relief in Sight.
Although gas prices at the pump have showed a slight decrease over the last few weeks, according to the Energy Information System, limited supplies and a variety of problems cropping at the nation’s oil refineries, will result in a national average price of $3.05 per gallon between now and September.
Although the agency originally estimated prices to be almost 10 cents lower per gallon, they are predicting prices will increase to a high of $3.11 in August. That price will reflect a 94 cent increase over the price for a gallon of gas in January.
Ironically, despite the prediction of still rising prices, Americans are expected to use 103,000 more barrels of oil per day than we did last year. We still don’t seem to be getting the message.
The EIA blamed the rising costs on tight supplies caused by decreased production in the refineries. While some of the production problems are a result of routine maintenance work, others have experienced unplanned outages and apparently seem to be having trouble finding qualified laborers to fix the problems.
Some Americans, however, believe that the decrease in production is just one more way for the oil companies to justify raising prices again. The refineries are expected to be operating at 91.2% of their capacity. The only relief that may be provided to those of us pulling up to the pump will have to come from the oil imports.
