dlyon  Feb 8 2005 - 8:42am  Local News   

By SEAN O’LEARY
Chronicle Staff Writer
As the holiday season ended, January brought Connecticut one more gift that no one wanted to open — a sharp increase in gas prices.
Today, average gas prices for a gallon of regular unleaded across the state crept to the $2 mark in some places — an increase of 15 cents over the past 30 days.
According to the American Automobile Association’s fuel gauge report, the average price per gallon in the Hartford area was $1.86 Jan. 8 and was at $2 this morning.
Locally, the prices were slightly less than $2, but more than enough to create headaches as wallets empty into hungry gas tanks.
Even more painful is that, one year ago at this time, prices were at $1.72.
AAA Hartford spokesman Jim MacPherson said there are two main factors that have teamed up to pinch the wallets of Connecticut’s motorists.
“The first factor is that the severe winter weather has put somewhat of a demand on supplies,” said MacPherson.
MacPherson said the increased need for heating oil, though not in direct competition with gasoline for vehicles, helps to deplete the crude oil supplies.
“The other factor to consider is that the price of crude oil is high and well above the past OPEC barrel prices,” said MacPherson. “My suspicion is that the oil-producing cartel is going to keep it that way, especially since the dollar has taken a slide in regards to the euro.”
Gas prices in the eastern part of the country, according to MacPherson, usually follow trends set by prices in the Midwest.
“The Midwest is a good indicator and last month their prices went up before they did here,” said MacPherson. “But if you look there now, the prices have stabilized so I’m going to expect that the gas prices stay at this level for awhile.”
Local residents say they were not happy with the recent price jump, but have little choice but to accept it.
“I don’t think anyone likes it when prices go up,” said Edwin Clark of Hebron as he filled up at the Citgo station in town. “The only thing that I really hate is when you go to the pump and all of a sudden the price has gone up by like a dime. It’s just depressing.”