Gas prices suspected to rise

Average retail gasoline prices in Montana have risen 0.3 cent per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.31 per gallon yesterday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 615 gas outlets in Montana.

This compares with the national average that has increased 1.4 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.27 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Montana during the past week, prices yesterday were 60 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 2.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has decreased 7.1 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 57.9 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

Areas near Montana and their current gas price climate:

Idaho- $2.33 per gallon, down 1.2 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.35 per gallon.

Billings- $2.28 per gallon, down 0.4 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.28 per gallon.

Wyoming- $2.15 per gallon, down 0.5 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.15 per gallon.

“The era of falling gasoline prices will likely be coming to an end soon at a gas station near you,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com. “Not to say declines are completely done, but over the next few weeks we’ll likely see more times when stations are raising their prices then dropping them, thanks to gasoline demand that will soon begin recovering and crude oil imports that will soon reflect OPEC’s lower output. The national average typically rises 35-65 cents from its low price, usually in February, through Memorial Day, and there’s no reason to believe the same won’t happen this year, so buckle up,” he said.