BISMARCK -- GasBuddy predicts large price increases at the pump in the next two to three weeks.
“Just since Monday, Feb. 2, wholesale prices nationwide have increased by an average of 54 cents per gallon,” Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, said. “Wholesale prices today alone have increased coast to coast from 10 to 27 cents per gallon, and, when you add that on top of the increases that occurred earlier this month, it’s inevitable that retail prices will climb aggressively in weeks ahead.”
The transition from winter blend to summer blend, combined with seasonal decline in gasoline inventory from reduced refinery output and United Steelworkers Union strikes at 12 refineries, have driven the increase, according to GasBuddy.
Bismarck's state average price for unleaded gasoline was $2.25 per gallon Thursday, according to GasBuddy. Prices in Burleigh County averaged $2.30 per gallon. In Cass County, the average was $2.16 per gallon, in Williams County the average was $2.32 per gallon and the Stark County average was $2.35 per gallon.
These prices are still much lower than the average in the past two years at this time.
