AAA: Rising gas prices should peak before summer

AAA said Tuesday that prices at the pump will continue to jump, for now, as consumer demand for gas is at an all-time high. But they should peak fairly soon.

Marie Dodds, director of government and public affairs for AAA Oregon/Idaho, told NewsChannel 21 that several factors are playing a role to the rising price of gasoline.

The ongoing shift to more expensive spring and summer blends and the price of crude oil have contributed to the rise.

“But we think we’re getting fairly close to our spring highs,” Dodds told NewsChannel 21. “In some years, gas prices peak around Memorial Day or in June. This year, we’ve been saying the spring peak will happen earlier than that.”

Clayton Childs drives for Uber whenever he can to make extra cash for his family.

Childs was busy throughout the day, picking up and dropping off people around Bend.

He said he does get creative with driving around the city to help save gas.

He recently purchased a new vehicle that gives him better gas mileage than his old V-8-engine truck.

NewsChannel 21 also spoke to a cab driver who said it’s a daily struggle to make money, and the high gas prices make that an even greater challenge.

The national average for regular gasoline jumped four cents a gallon this week, to $2.66.

Oregon’s average is at $3.09, here in Bend, regular gasoline is at $2.89.

Find out the lowest citizen-reported gas prices in your area at KTVZ’s Pump Patrol.