Expect To Pay More At The Pump In 2011

MIAMI (CBS4) – As we head into a new year, an old problem is beginning to rear its ugly head and it's not expected to go away anytime soon.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) reports in the last month, the price for regular unleaded has risen about 20 cents statewide to an average of $3.10 a gallon; that's up from $2.90 a month ago. Last year at this time, the price for unleaded regular was averaging $2.68 a gallon. The national average is $3.07 a gallon.

Thanks in part to an economic rebound worldwide which sent oil prices surging 34 percent since last May, it could reach the $100 per barrel mark which could lead to $4 a gallon prices by summer.  Gasoline expert Fred Rozell predicts that 15 states including Alaska, Hawaii, Connecticut and Rhode Island will see gas prices top the $4 mark by Memorial Day.

"A dollar more per gallon isn't that much -- probably about $750 more per year for each motorist, but there's a psychological aspect to gas prices," he said. "People are going to be up in arms about this."

In Miami-Dade drivers are paying a bit more than the state average. Unleaded regular is averaging $3.16 a gallon; up from $3.14 a week ago and $2.93 a month ago. A year ago, the price of unleaded regular in the area averaged $2.72 a gallon.

In Ft. Lauderdale drivers are paying about $3.15 on average for a gallon of regular unleaded compared to about $3.12 a week ago and $2.92 a month ago. Last year at this time regular unleaded averaged $2.72 a gallon.

The most expensive area in the state to fill up is West Palm Beach were regular unleaded is averaging $3.18 a gallon. Jacksonville gas stations have some of the cheapest prices in the state, unleaded regular is averaging $2.99 a gallon.

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