In an inter-related world, this is just another example how something there affects something here.

The recent winter storms that essentially crippled parts of Texas and the Gulf Coast; while this has been something to maybe joke about for us Michiganders and northerners (and maybe get a little smug, too), in general, that's part of the reason we are paying some fifty to seventy-five cents per gallon more than we were late last year here in Southwest Michigan.

WWJ in Detroit say the latest increase is directly the result of the freakish weather in the southern United States, especially Texas.

"The jump in the national average is a direct result of all major Gulf Coast refineries being impacted by the recent winter storm, which has caused gas supplies to tighten and pump prices to increase. Until refineries resume normal operations, supply is expected to remain tight in impacted areas, especially with road conditions and power outages reducing fuel deliveries." - WWJ

As the south warms up and refineries get back to normal operations, the most recent spike to the mid $2.65 price range across all of Michigan might temper back down a little but a government report says "domestic crude inventories dropped by 7.3 million bbl, bringing the supply level to 461.8 million bbl. If crude inventories continue their decline, crude prices are likely to continue increasing." This according to the Energy Information Administration.

You can probably also expect to pay more in the next few months as mid-western refiners switch their gasoline blends from winter back to summer. This annual sees a spike in prices, though the onset of the pandemic lowered demand so much last year, that gasoline prices plummeted.

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