Analyst Sees Holiday Weekend Gas-Price Spike

If you think you have it bad at the gas station these days, meet Kevin Crew.

?I’m filling up this Tioga motorhome and this Tahoe boat,” Crew said Friday in Bend.

The gas station pump caps his credit card purchase at $105, so he runs it again, and again.

“In the range of $300,” he says of the total.

Kevin might be getting a steal. That’s because an analyst at gasbuddy.com is predicting a jump of up to 35 cents a gallon in Oregon — by this weekend.

Told of that prediction, Crew laughed said, “I’m glad I filled it up today.”

The prediction is based on a slowing in refinery production in the Northwest, coupled with increased demand for the holiday weekend.

“Bottom line — we have a tight supply of gas, there’s no doubt about it. But a spike like that, we’re going to be conservative, and say that we don’t see it happening,” said Cee Lee, Bend manager for AAA Oregon.

AAA disagrees with the gasbuddy’s prediction of such a drastic jump. But they do estimate 34.8 million drivers will hit the road for the holiday weekend. If there is a silver lining, gassbuddy.com is also predicting the spike will be short-lived.