Gas prices continue to rise | New

For the first time in two years, gas prices are around $ 3 per gallon.

The cheapest price was $ 2.75 on Friday, a rate that has been rising steadily since prices fell to a two-year low of $ 1.84 per gallon in December. The price of gas has not reached $ 3 per gallon since May 2017.

Patrick DeHaan, senior oil expert at Gasbuddy.com, said prices generally rose in the spring as oil refineries geared up for the busy summer season. The price of crude oil in the United States has risen to $ 64 a gallon.

"The rise of this spring has felt worse than in previous years," DeHaan said. "Unfortunately, it's a rut in which we'll still be stuck for at least a few weeks.

"While oil prices have been a minor factor in rising gas prices, most EPA mandates have been maintained during the summer months, which coincides with refinery work in anticipation of intense summer demand, where most of them are close to capacity. "

The average price in Wisconsin is $ 2.83 a gallon, which is slightly cheaper than the national average of $ 2.88 a gallon, according to Gasbuddy.com.

California drivers were the hardest hit, with prices surpassing $ 4 a gallon for the first time in almost five years.

Prices have skyrocketed due to many unexpected refinery failures, resulting in a limited supply of California's summer gasoline blends, designed to reduce the way the fuel evaporates in hot weather, according to DeHaan.

Local gas prices have risen by about 90 cents in the last four months.

Americans will spend nearly $ 200 million more at the pump than early 2019, according to DeHaan.

"There should be no surprise that prices continue to rise, given the warnings of recent months, although this does not allow motorists to digest rising gas prices." "said DeHaan.

"Unfortunately, as seasonal problems continue to weigh on markets as well as rising oil prices, we are likely to continue this momentum."

The reformulated fuel mandated by the EPA, obtained primarily from the Exxon / Mobil refineries in Joliet, Illinois, and Citgo, in Lemont, Illinois, is needed in Kenosha and in some surrounding counties from June 1st to September 15th.