Gas prices rise as oil prices drop
January 18th, 2009 - Posted in Energy Pricesby SHANNON MULAIRE
FOX 13 NEWS
TAMPA — As little as Jennifer Johnson drives, she still appreciates that gas prices are lower than they used to be.
“It’s a huge change, but still it’s definitely going back up,” offers Johnson, who works from home.
Last July, we watched as oil hit an all-time high of more than $150 per barrel. Gas prices followed suit. In the Tampa area, we saw gas top $4.00 per gallon. Over the past two weeks, the price of oil has dropped $10 to just over $36 a barrel. But gasoline prices are moving in the opposite direction. Two weeks ago, the average price in the Tampa area was $1.57. Friday, the average had risen to $1.80.
“The numbers don’t lie,” says Gregg Laskoski, managing director with AAA Auto Club South.
Laskoski says it’s a very unusual circumstance. Based on the price of oil, he expected gas prices to drop this week – instead, they went up.
“There’s no reason why wholesale prices would be going up right now, so it suggests that retailers are taking an opportunity to gain some profit,” adds Laskoski.
But you don’t have to take his word for it. FOX 13 watched as the price at one Tampa gas station went from $1.76 to $1.85 in a matter of moments.
Some analysts say the increase is just a lag between the price of gas and oil. Others say gasoline producers are just trying to make some money in the wake of dismal sales. Johnson just hopes the prices don’t skyrocket again.
“I don’t think it’ll go as crazy as it was, but maybe that’s wishful thinking,” adds Johnson.
