The price of fuel increased at some gas stations in Milwaukee over the weekend.
According to AAA, the average price of gas in the Milwaukee metro area is $1.48/gallon for regular unleaded. That’s below the national average of $1.69/gallon.
The website GasBuddy.com shows several Milwaukee gas stations selling fuel for $1.40/gallon or less.
But at some gas stations, signs Monday indicated prices at or above $1.60/gallon for regular unleaded.
A spokesperson for AAA said that could be due to the price of oil, which increased on Friday, and/or refinery maintenance issues.
Mohsen Bahmani-Oskooee, Director of the Center for Research on International Economics at UW-Milwaukee, said oil prices rose based on speculation that the OPEC nations and Russia might cut their production.
Bahmani-Oskooee said that, should OPEC and Russia cut their production of oil substantially, the U.S. would likely not be able to produce enough oil to totally offset the price increase it would cause at the gas pump.
Gas was selling for $1.61 at the Andy’s gas station on 76th and Hampton on Monday.
Drivers said they’re a bit frustrated by the fluctuations in price.
“I’m constantly filling up because of all the running around I do,” said Tammy Brown.
Brown said she regularly drives to visit relatives, drop her daughter off at various rehearsals and do volunteer work with her church.
“I wish we could just have the price of gas stay at one price,” Brown said. “Let it stay there consistently and not go up and down.”
Brown said she budgets accordingly when the price of fuel rises.
“Regardless of the price, we still need gas in order to get where we need to go,” she said.
Oscar Jordan, who drives four to five times per week, said he’s grateful the price of gas is still below $2.00/gallon.
“It’s still pretty good, considering what it used to be,” Jordan said. “At one point it was, oh my God, up around $3.00. That was really bad on us.”
