Gasoline is now selling at the highest-ever national average price — a dollar-78 a gallon — while the prices in Iowa are about a dime cheaper. Triple-A Iowa spokeswoman Dawn Duffy says gas is now averaging a dollar-71 a gallon in Iowa. A year ago, it was a dollar-49 in Iowa. The highest statewide monthly average was a dollar-80, recorded in June of 2000. Duffy says several factors are being blamed for the increase in prices at the pump — the same things that have been price-boosting problems for a number of months.OPEC production cutbacks, escalating violence in Iraq, rising demand for gas and the improving economy all share the blame for the high prices. Duffy says it likely won’t be getting any better anytime soon either. With demand expected to increase during the next few months as warmer weather arrives, prices will also increase.
