Gas prices on the rise

As the temperatures start to rise for spring, so will the gas prices.

Experts say prices won’t get quite as high as last year, but they will take a hit on wallets around the country.

After prices rose nearly 20 cents in just two days, people at the pump are unhappy.

On Wednesday, most Columbia gas stations cost $3.23 per gallon. That’s up from $3.09 earlier this week.

“I’m just really astonished they keep going up, especially the past week or so,” Jane Young said as she was filling up.

Others pumping gas near her agreed.

“It’s just ridiculous. How can we be at $3.20, then $3.18, now this? It’s like, what makes it go up that much?” Nancy Page asked.

A spokesperson for AAA said the quick increase in price is because crude oil has risen to 100 dollars per barrel.

Plus, most gas stations are switching from winter to summer grade fuel which costs more.

Current prices are the highest since last October. However, Missouri is still 13 cents lower than the national average.

People at the pump tell ABC 17 News they’re having to make sacrifices with prices like these.

“I’ve been thinking about buying a car with better gas mileage,” Sara Apel said.

“I used to run errands on my lunch break at work, but now I think twice about that,” Page said.

Even though prices are the highest they’ve been in months, they’re down 40 cents from this time last year.

AAA said we shouldn’t see prices go up to $4 per gallon this year.