Some of you have called us about them, and its hard not to notice gas prices are rising. Your NewsChannel 15 Pump Patrol asked questions to find out why, Tuesday.
A spokesman for AAA Carolinas tells us there are a few factors.
First, crude oil prices and demand are up.
Prices also normally rise in the spring and summer months when refineries switch to their summer blend, which costs more to get to the gas pump.
Officials with AAA say they don't expect gas prices to get anywhere near last summer's levels.
They also say the country is better equipped to handle a natural disaster that could hinder the refinery process. AAA says the Department of Energy's stock supply of gas is at a 19 year high.
Now let's look at your Pump Patrol local average for the Myrtle Beach-Florence area. We pay an average of $2.14 a gallon. That's up four cents since Monday.
A month ago the average was $1.90 a gallon.
Last year at this time it was $3.58. The record was set last September at $4.00 a gallon.
