I guess we knew this could be coming. Since gas prices have been getting consistently higher each and every year – heck, each and every day, there is now news that the price per gallon to keep your car going could reach $4.

Many analysts expect oil prices to rise higher in coming months, possibly above last month's records, as the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates later in the year. Lower rates tend to weaken the dollar.

The government also predicted that high prices are expected to cut demand for gasoline at the height of the summer. Gas consumption will fall by about 0.4 percent during the peak summer months, and overall consumption of petroleum products will drop by 90,000 barrels a day this year, the EIA said. The agency previously said petroleum consumption would rise by 40,000 barrels a day.

Crude oil's rise above $100 earlier this year is the main reason gas prices have been rising. Crude futures rose to a trading record of $111.80 last month, and have since traded in a range between about $100 and $110.



Consumers are concerned that they will have to drastically cut down on the amount they drive because of the price increase. I beg to differ. There are ways to considerably cut down how much gas your car consumes (check out the article I wrote about this)

But if you want to learn the method behind the madness as to why gas stations keep "jacking up" their prices then check out gas station secrets.

Gas prices are continuing to jump each day, but luckily there is a way to find cheaper gas in your area, check out our new Local Gas Price monitor.

While we cannot control the prices in the gas world, necessarily, there is a way to navigate around all of this and still allow you to drive from point A to point B.

 
Dan Olson writes for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are his.