Holiday gas prices are expected to be stable but longer term they are likely to rise again, according to a petroleum analyst for the website gas buddy dot com
Prices have been declining since summer, with some stations in Milwaukee below $3.00 a gallon.
Patrick DeHaan says as the weather gets colder people don't drive as much...
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"....with the switchover to winter gasoline the drop in demand is one of the reasons for prices to drop in the cooler months. It's just a fact that U.S motorists don't do as much driving when the temperatures are cooler...."
He says the switchover to less clean winter-grade fuels are mostly complete, also lowering the price. He says domestic oil production is on the rise, and there has been a period of relative calm in the Middle East. He says there were no major hurricanes in the oil producing and refining areas this summer and fall which also stabilized prices...
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"....gas prices across Wisconsin average about $3.14 a gallon. I see a range of about $3.10 to $3.20 for the next month or so. Prices then may generally head up as we head into the new year...."
Prices across the Northwoods were in the $3.21 range in Rhinelander and Tomahawk, $3.22 in Minocqua, $3.29 in Eagle River, and $3.15 in Antigo. It's $3.14 in Wausau.
