For the first time in over a year, Wisconsin’s average gasoline price rose above $4 a gallon Thursday morning. AAA Wisconsin reported the average statewide price of regular unleaded was $4.007. That’s up from just over $3.97 Wednesday – and 12 cents higher than a week ago.
Tom Kloza of Gas Buddy.Com called it a temporary spike. Two large refineries are running short of capacity in the Chicago area, where much of Wisconsin gets its fuel.
An Exxon-Mobil refinery in Joliet is late in restarting after routine maintenance in April – and production at a BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana has been slowed due to a reconfiguration project.
Both are expected to return to full production soon – and when that happens, Kloza said gas prices will, “drop like rocks.”
Milwaukee Gas Prices.Com reported fuel prices are at their highest since March of 2012. Pam Moen of AAA said Milwaukee area prices have jumped higher than others, because of the cleaner reformulated gas it uses during the summer months.
WTAQ
