by Emily Luxen
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The pain at the pump is back, and drivers are not too happy about it. AAA Tennessee reports drivers are paying an average of $3.53 a gallon in Nashville. The price spiked 9 cents over the last week.
AAA spokesperson Jim Lott said some refineries recently shut down and that may behind the increase.
"The refinery that supplies Nashville with most of its gas closed," said Lott, "That means production has been reduced, and the cost will go up."
Lott said that prices could continue to climb leading up to the summer driving season.
"It is so hard to predict, but $4 a gallon could be back," said Lott.
Area drivers said the sudden price increase is frustrating and it has them changing some of their driving habits.
"I'm driving a lot less," said one driver. "I am trying to be smarter and doing things on the way to work I didn't do before."
"We only go where we need to go. Extra things are just not happening these days," another driver added.
Officials with AAA said they are not seeing people changing their travel plans for the summer, but expect that could happen if prices continue to increase.
Higher gas prices could hurt consumer spending and curtail the recent improvement in the economy.
A 25-cent jump in gasoline prices, if sustained over a year, would cost the economy about $35 billion. Economists said it's a meaningful amount, especially at a time when growth is only so-so.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
