Wisconsin gas price average is $2.58; last year was $3.80

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Wisconsin gas prices went up another 4 cents a gallon since Thursday.

Triple A says the average statewide price for unleaded regular is almost $2.46 a gallon, up 37 cents from a month ago.

But last year at this time, we were paying $3.80, and that means are still getting a break as the Memorial Day Weekend begins.

The Triple A says about one-in-every-10 Americans will travel, up 1.5 percent from a year ago.

The bigger demand is one reason for the recent gas price increases. Speculation is another.

Investors have jumped in since crude oil prices dipped to $34 a barrel in February.

The price is now about $60 a barrel and Erin Roth of the Wisconsin Petroleum Council reminds us that crude represents about 70 percent of what we pay at the pump.

Also, refiners are taking in less fuel due to the economy. And it costs more when those refiners convert to the summer blends of fuel.

MilwaukeeGasPrices.com reports an average price of $2.58 today in the state’s largest metro.

That’s up by a penny from Thursday, and 48 cents over the past month.

Tags: gas prices, memorial day, news, wisconsin