Gas prices on rise again in Idaho

By DAVE CARLSON

AAA Idaho

An uncharacteristic late-year rally in oil

prices has helped boost the national average price for regular

grade gasoline nearly a dime in the past week alone. This week

marks the first time that Idahoans will pay less, on average, than

their national counterparts --going all the way back to January 26

of this year.

Oil moved higher on bullish news late last

week, and gas prices quickly followed suit. Just a day or two

before the rally, it appeared that a stronger U.S. dollar and a

European Union (EU) bailout of Ireland would put downward pressure

on commodity prices. But for the moment, at least, bullish energy

markets suggest oil and gas prices may continue to pick up a head

of steam.

 For the past ten months, Idahoans have paid

an average monthly price of 15 cents more per gallon, but there

have been points in time when Gem State motorists were paying as

much as nearly 30 cents a gallon more.