Rose Rougeau Pump Quotations

The price of gasoline at the wholesale level declined sharply last week and there continues to be downward pressure on gas in Texas. Motorists may be in for a few weeks of slightly lower prices. But toward the end of the month, it's likely that pump prices will resume an upward arc.

Crude prices pushed near the all-time record high of $70.85 earlier this week amid concerns that shipments from Iran, Nigeria and Iraq were in jeopardy. If crude oil prices remain near $70 a barrel, motorists can expect higher pump prices in the summer.

After the New Year, pump prices in the state typically turn down due to a decrease in demand.

Conditions indicate that motorists may see slight increases in retail gasoline prices within the next few days. Typically, pump prices in Texas move lower during this time of year due to a decrease in demand, but with crude oil trading around $63 a barrel that has yet to happen.

This is the time of year when steep price increases are common, but this year, there is added uncertainty about whether there will be sufficient gasoline supplies later in the year. It may be several weeks before the picture of the nation's production becomes clear, but in the meantime, motorists may experience steadily rising pump prices.