Gas prices surge earlier than expected

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Who hasn’t noticed gas prices these days? Chances are, driver Holly Spence has not.

“I don’t even look at the gas price, because I know I have to get it,” Spence said. “So, I don’t even bother to look.”

Truth is, it’s painful to watch:   gas prices climbing for the fifth year in a row, experts say, at an unusually early date.

“Seems a little ridiculous,” said Stephanie Leek, also a driver in Terre Haute. “I mean, it’s hard enough now to fill up the gas tank because now, I’m putting $40 in it and it barely gets me through the week.”

It’s predictable that gas prices go up for the summer travel season, but that’s not usually until Memorial Day weekend.

Analysts blame this early surge on higher crude oil costs, the fact that oil refineries have shut down, some for routine maintenance; and the economy is at least viewed as getting stronger.

A fourth reason gas prices are on the incline, according to experts, is the seasonal switch to a summer grade gasoline. Summer gas burns cleaner, but it’s much pricier to produce.

The pinch at the pump is bound to affect families’ spring break and summer travel plans. Turner Air Land and Sea, of Terre Haute, is reporting a 20 percent increase, just like last year, in its customers opting to go coach and leave the driving to someone else.

“From that, the largest increase we’re seeing are families that are looking at the motor coach and saying, ‘Wow! This is a much more economical way to travel,’” said Annette Trotter who works at Turner. “’And it’s a much more stress-free way to travel.’”

Trotter admitted that Turner, too, can expect to be paying more at the pump this spring and summer – a cost passed on to Turner coach travelers. Still, Turner customers pay about three-quarters the cost of air fare.

Drivers can turn a blind eye; they can live in denial, in other words.

“I don’t know. I don’t even know what (the cost) is right now,” said driver Stephanie Leek, reluctant to look at the price on the pump.

But things are likely only going to get worse, experts say, as we approach the busy summertime travel season.

And as high as gas prices are expected to climb this calendar year, 2012 will still go down in the record books as one of the worst, according to economists.