Gas Prices Soar as Summer Nears

The AP reports on the soaring gas prices. Gas prices are already ahead of the national average of $2.62 that the Energy Department expected for a high this summer.

The Energy Department says it expects the price of regular to average $2.62 a gallon, 25 cents more than last summer, over the April-September driving period. But prices around the country already are above that.

"Look, it's $41 to fill it up," complained Lorenzo Rivera, 26, a restaurant manager, as he pumped mid-level gas Tuesday at $3.05 a gallon at a Chevron station near the Watergate complex in Northwest Washington. Across the street at an ExxonMobil station, regular grade was going for $3.09 - and there weren't many customers.

Ervin Goodall, 56, a professional driver pumping supreme grade into his large sedan, was paying $3.29 a gallon. "It's lot higher than last year, a bigger hit," said Goodall, who added that when it comes to personal driving he's scaling back ? no more Saturday day trips.

Guy Caruso, head of the Energy Department's statistical agency, said prices at the pump, which averaged $2.68 a gallon last week nationwide, are likely to increase 10 to 15 cents a gallon in the coming weeks, peak in May and drop off in late summer. He said the national average can mask local price spikes.

Airplane tickets are expensive as well so people with summer travel plans may be forced to drive anyway despite the rising costs. Gas prices are running significantly higher than a year ago -- as much as 40 to 70 cents higher. The hurricane season starts in June and one major hurricane in the Gulf could mean even more pain at the pump.

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