Ongoing Coverage:
Economy
10:53 am
Tue February 22, 2011

Middle East unrest may be felt in higher gasoline prices this summer

Credit (photo by Steve Carmody/Michigan Radio)
Fill 'er up?

Unrest in the Middle East may soon affect gasoline prices in Michigan. Crude oil prices are approaching one hundred dollars a barrel, which is expected to increase the cost of gasoline globally.

Nancy Cain is with AAA Michigan.   She says it’s too soon to predict whether or not the price for a gallon of regular unleaded will reach four dollars, like it did two years ago.

 “Our all time high here in Michigan, we were paying four dollars ten cents a gallon.  And that was when the crude oil per barrel price was on the world market as a hundred and forty dollars per barrel.  So, we’re hopeful we’re not going to see that again.”

The current average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Michigan is $3.18,  a penny more than the national average.