Gas prices may have peaked

National average gasoline prices have seen their largest seasonal rise since 2011. But, industry watch-dog GasBuddy is predicting that relief may be coming.

The year-to-date price of gas has been enhanced by a number of issues, including rising oil prices, led by Iranian sanctions, OPEC production cuts, and rising demand. Other causes include refinery maintenance, which generally runs from March through May.

GasBuddy believes most states will see average gas prices moving lower in the next few weeks and continue into June as summer blend supplies build.

“It’s been a rough spring at the pump with prices advancing at a maddening pace and multi-year highs happening in more places than I can count on two hands,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “We’re cautiously optimistic now that the worst is behind us and relief is on the horizon for nearly every area in the country. Motorists shouldn’t get too impatient this won’t happen overnight- but as stations begin to fill their tanks with slightly cheaper gasoline, they’ll begin to pass the savings on, just in time for Memorial Day and beyond.”

For now, though, GasBuddy said we could expect national average prices near $3 per gallon. You can track the latest price trends HERE.

You can find the lowest gas prices in the area HERE.