Metro-East Gas Prices on the Rise Again: Costs Jump About 15 Cents Per Gallon

By Maria Baran, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.

Consumers had to dig a little deeper into their wallets Monday to fill up their tanks, as the price of gas jumped considerably throughout the day.

The price for a regular gallon of gas jumped to $2.39 in the metro-east. Before noon, gas could be purchased locally for at least 15 cents less.

Of 14 local gas stations, all but one had raised prices to $2.39 per gallon of regular gasoline by 3 p.m.; one gas station priced a regular gallon of gas at $2.38.

Earlier in the day, gas could be purchased for as low as $2.23.

The gas stations surveyed were located throughout Belleville, Swansea, O’Fallon and Fairview Heights.

AAA-St. Louis spokesman Mike Right said gas jumped an average of 26 cents per gallon a few weeks ago. “Since that time, it’s been drifting downward … about 10 cents,” he said. “It might be time for another start up.”

Right said the jump in prices may be due to a restriction in supply.

The price for crude oil rose 3 percent, or $1.81, to $61.77 Monday, marking a turnaround after crude fell nearly $4 a barrel, or about 6 percent last week.

Contact reporter Maria Baran at mbaran@bnd.com or 239-2562.

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