Pump Prices Heading Up

Get ready to shell out some extra money when you fill up your gas tank next time.

In the last few weeks, the price of gas has jumped at least a dime a gallon in North Carolina.

Many people have noticed the difference, and they're not at all pleased.

In Fayetteville, for example, you'll pay $1.19 a gallon for self-serve, unleaded regular the Happy Store. At the Exxon station across the street, regular costs $1.21 a gallon.

"The prices are going up," said one consumer who did not want to be identified. "You got to pay them if you've got to ride."

But other folks are downright upset.

"I think they're ridiculous," said Jeff Moore. "I think they ought to go back on down a little more."

The higher prices have begun to take a bite out of some people's budgets.

"It kills you if you aren't making a lot of money," said James Smith of Hope Mills. "Then, you spend a lot of money on gas. And it's killing all the rest of your money for everything else."

The price of gas is going up because the price of crude oil is going up. Industry experts blame that on the harsh winter and lower reserves, but some aren't buying it.

"It seems like they use any type of excuse to increase our prices," said Betty Autry of White Oak. "But now more people are going to be travelling, the weather's pretty. Why aren't some of our other petroleum based products increasing in price also?"

"I think it's all a hoax," added Lawrence Murphy of Clinton. "I think somebody just wants to be greedy. I think everybody's out to get as many dollars as they can -- at the expense of working people. I think something needs to be done about it. I'm totally distraught."

The price of gas is expected to soar even higher. National forecasts predict self-serve, regular unleaded gas will peak at $1.35 a gallon sometime this summer.

The only good news is that gas prices in our region are traditionally lower than the national average