Gas Prices Jump After Refinery Disruption
DETROIT (WWJ) - Pain at the pump has returned after a disruption at a refinery caused gas prices to jump 10 to 30 cents across Metro Detroit.
Analyst Patrick DeHaan of GasBuddy.com said we can expect the prices to stay this high for several weeks.
"Exxon Mobil says that they suffered an unexpected refinery issue at their facility outside of Chicago, that has caused concern about supply and going into the Memorial Day weekend and that is pushing up wholesale gasoline prices, stations already paying a higher price than they were last week," said DeHaan.
Wednesday, prices ranged between $3.67 and $3.99 per gallon along Telegraph Road.
WWJ Newsradio 950's Ron Dewey spoke with drivers filling up ahead of the holiday weekend.
"Try to drive less," one Metro Detroit driver said, saying there is little she can do other than to cut back elsewhere. "Prices have to go down."
A truck driver said he's been trying to keep his eyes peeled for lower prices. This is becoming harder to do with the latest spike.
"One place that I went was $3.59 yesterday, it's $3.97 today," the man said. "A forty cent jump in less than a day. I think it's a shame."
Another driver is used to the rise in gas prices. "I feel that's the way it's been for the last two years, never coming down," she said. "Unfortunately, when it goes down past $3.50, everybody celebrates like it's a great price," she laughed.
Some analysts are calling the timing of the refinery disruption, just before the start of Memorial Day weekend, "suspect." Drivers are using more descriptive words.
