Local gas prices expected to climb

COEUR d'ALENE - Don't get too comfy with gas prices; they're expected to climb.

Winter weather, weak demand and sufficient supplies have kept pump prices flat and stable this year, but seasonal maintenance on refineries and the switchover to summer-grade gasoline are expected to usher in high prices soon, said Dave Carlson, AAA Idaho spokesman.

"Those actions can limit gasoline supplies and cause market uncertainty," he said.

Coeur d'Alene's Jennifer Smith, who filled up on Thursday, said she thought it would only be a matter of time before the next price increase occurs.

"They've been below $3 for a while now," she said. "As much as I hate to say it, they're probably due to go up again. But I'm not going to let it get me down. Gas prices are life. Sometimes life stinks."

Thursday's gas price averages were $2.88 per gallon in Coeur d'Alene, $2.96 in Post Falls and $3.02 in Spokane, according to AAA. Idaho's average was $3.13 and the nation's $3.27.

Of the seven largest Idaho cities, Coeur d'Alene's price was the lowest. Nampa's price was the highest at $3.23.

Carlson said spreads that large generally dissipate as the cost retailers pay for gasoline goes up.

AAA expects a spike in prices beginning this month could result in U.S. average prices peaking between $3.55 and $3.85 per gallon this spring.

As an example of how prices can sharply rise early in the year, a year ago, Idaho's average price on Jan. 1 was $3.05. By Feb. 20, it was at $3.42 a gallon. Meanwhile, the U.S. price was already at $3.77 on that date.

The last time Coeur d'Alene's average price per gallon was at $3 was Nov. 18.