The party’s over: Gas prices on the upswing

Just as folks were getting used to filling up their vehicles for a song, gas prices are on the upswing again.

Prices fell for 17 weeks in a row, but by the beginning of this month prices began to increase, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy.

Prices rose nine cents in a week, between Feb. 5-12, but it’s still more than a dollar less than this time last year, according to AAA, which monitors gas price trends.

Texans are lucky compared to other parts of the nation: “The statewide average is 16 cents less than the national average of $2.23, which is eight cents more than one week ago,” according to AAA.

One of the reasons for the rise in prices is maintenance schedules at refineries.

“February typically marks the start of the seasonal refinery maintenance in preparation for the busy summer driving season,” explained AAA Texas representative Doug Shupe in a Feb. 12 statement. “Refineries usually schedule maintenance during the first several months of the year when demand is relatively low, which can lead to decreased production and supplies.”

Another cause of the price spike is a United Steelworkers union strike: more than 5,000 workers walked off their jobs at U.S. oil refineries. Although the strike did not have a big impact on production, it still caused uncertainty in the market, making prices rise.

GasBuddy, a website that monitors trends in gas prices, states crude oil prices have been on the “rebound,” and that it’s part of a seasonal pattern.