Gasoline prices this year will be
less expensive than in 2012 as a result of increased domestic oil production
and lower demand. Triple-A officials say the national average price of gasoline
should peak at $3.60-$3.80 per gallon, which compares to a peak of $3.94 a
gallon in 2012.
Triple-A spokesperson Martha
Mitchell Meade says gas prices should rise steadily through April or early May,
but should drop during the first half of the summer to as low as $3.20-$3.40
per gallon before rising again in advance of hurricane season and the
switchover to winter-blend gasoline. Prices should end the year by falling to near-low
averages for 2013.
Meade says unless there are significant
storms, majors wars or production and distribution outages, the single largest
factor that will influence gasoline prices in 2013 will be the strength of the
U.S. economy. She says a stronger economy would result in higher gas prices in
anticipation of higher consumption, while a weaker economy would drive prices downwards.
Meade says inaction by Congress to reach a debt deal in two months also would
result in increased concern about the U.S. economy and could lead to lower
gasoline prices.
