AAA is predicting the national average price of gasoline for Labor Day this year will be the highest ever for the holiday. Spokeswoman Cheryl Parker says we're looking at a high for local gas prices as well:
"The highest for us locally was$3.75 last year on Labor Day; and, as you can see, we're already at the average of $3.93. So it's already the highest that we're seeing pretty much across the country."
Other average prices from the Cincinnati AAA office: Ohio, $3.90; Kentucky, $3.87; and Covington, $3.96.
Increased crude oil costs, regional supply problems in the Midwest and West Coast caused by refinery and pipeline disruptions, and Gulf Coast refinery closures in advance of Hurricane Isaac are the main factors driving up gas prices. Barring anything unexpected, Parker says AAA expects them to drop in September:
"We are looking at relief. It seems as though the impact of Isaac will start to subside; so we're looking at sometime, probably in the next week or so, things will start to get back to normal."
AAA is is offering motorists a couple of ways to find the cheapest gas in their areas. Mobile phone users can text "GAS" and their five-digit zip code to AAA411 to receive weekly mobile alerts. They can also visit AAA.com/mobilealerts for a full range of services. Messaging and data rates apply.