At The Pump: Marylanders To See Gas Price Hike

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--While gas prices are still much, much lower than they were a year ago, but they are on their way up!

Mike Schuh explains.

For the past year, every time a tanker pulled in the price went down.

And drivers couldn't be happier!

The lower prices means the number of miles driven is at an all-time high

But while you weren't looking, we bottomed out. In the past 10 days, it's gone up about a penny a day.

And the rise will continue.

"Unfortunately we're now in the spring refinery maintenance season, which is why we're seeing prices jump so high, refiners are shutting down getting ready to produce the more environmentally friendly summer blend gasoline," said Christine Delise, AAA.

But would you notice the change?

"I think if it gets back up into the $2.00 range I'll notice," said one traveler.

And that's exactly where we are headed, but people at the pumps are taking it in stride, thankful it's been so low for so long.

You know this time last year we were paying a dollar more per gallon, and over the course of a year, that adds up.

"I know from looking at my budget it would cost me $300 a month in gas and I know now my wife and I know on a bad month it's $150, so it's cut the cost in half so you take 12 months, $150 dollars, it adds up, it's a blessing," a driver said.

A blessing that, after this bump, may return.

Though the prices may go up another 30 or 40 cents or so, traditionally during the summer months the prices go back down.

The average price today in Maryland is 1.78 cents a gallon.

The lowest we could find was $1.65 a gallon in Essex.