Fuel Prices Crisis

U.S. retail gasoline prices hit a record high for thegallon.
second week in a row and matched theThe latest EIA pump price also equals the all-time high
inflation-adjusted peak reached in the early 1980sfuel cost of $3.22 a gallon, when adjusted for inflation,
during the Iran-Iraq war, the government said onreached in March 1981 after war erupted between Iran
Monday, as concern about low motor fuel suppliesand Iraq.
pushed up pump costs.Gasoline prices have skyrocketed $1.05 a gallon since
The average price for regular unleaded gasolinethe beginning of February and are up 33 cents from a
soared 11.5 cents over the last week to a fresh recordyear ago.
of $3.22 a gallon, according to the federal EnergyWith several large refineries down this spring for
Information Administration's nationwide survey of 800maintenance or shut by problems, gasoline production
service stations.has been reduced, cutting into available supplies.
The much larger Lundberg industry survey of 7,000However, the high pump prices are attracting gasoline
stations showed the national price of gasoline jumpedimports, which recently hit the fifth highest weekly level
11.4 cents over the last two weeks to a record $3.18 aever at 1.5 million barrels a day.