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

Posted on: Tuesday, 14 March 2006, 06:00 CST

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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Copyright (c) 2006, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Ill.)

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