Carol Thorp Likely Quotations

Motorists have not seen the end of price increases. Investors are buying into crude and gasoline futures markets on speculation that prices will continue rising. Retail prices still have not caught up with wholesale price increases. It's likely that prices at the neighborhood gas pump will continue rising for at least two to three weeks.

We hope drivers are aware that the California Highway Patrol and law enforcement agencies are likely to be using extra patrols to look for drinking drivers during holidays.

Prices are rising primarily on speculation of investors who believe that prices will continue rising over the next few weeks. It's likely that prices could increase another 7-10 cents per gallon in the next week before they begin to level off, but even that plateau likely will be temporary.

Prices went up throughout Southern California this past week, but not at as rapid a pace as we've seen during other gas price spikes. It's likely that increases will continue for at least the next few weeks.

In the last couple of days, prices have been going up by 2 or 3 cents in a 24-hour period. This is likely the same type of rapid price increase that has happened in Southern California every spring of this decade.

It's likely that increases will continue for at least the next few weeks.