Analysts expect gas prices to inch up

(New York-AP) -- What's gone down this winter may be headed up. <br><br>The folks who track gasoline prices say we may begin seeing higher pump prices as early as mid-March. <br><br>The springtime

Wednesday, February 20th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(New York-AP) -- What's gone down this winter may be headed up.

The folks who track gasoline prices say we may begin seeing higher pump prices as early as mid-March.

The springtime rise is an annual phenomenon, as refiners shift production from winter to summer-grade fuel ahead of the busy summer travel period. But analysts say the increase this year should be less extreme than in recent years, noting that a gallon of gas still costs about 25 percent less than it did a year ago.

One expert expects unleaded gasoline prices to rise as much as 15 cents a gallon between March 15th and Memorial Day.

Last year the average price of regular unleaded was a dollar-38 a gallon on March 19th and a dollar-65 by Memorial Day.