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Las Vegas Gas Prices on the Rise
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LAS VEGAS - Nevada drivers are paying more at the pump. In the past month, gas prices in Las Vegas have risen 15 cents per gallon. Experts say prices will climb higher as summer approaches.

Nevada drivers say the economy is already making life difficult. Rising fuel prices only add to their financial problems. “It makes it hard, hard to even go to work or do anything,” driver Curtis McOsker said. “At these prices, (I’ll pay) about $85.”

Kesheana Shelby is also feeling the pinch at the pump. “It’s ridiculous how much the prices are going up,” she said. “I believe we’re probably going to be up to about $3.50 a gallon. I wouldn’t be surprised if we made it to four dollars. It’s bad how they’re doing it out here.”

A gallon of regular unleaded costs, on average, $2.90 in Las Vegas. Last year at this time, Las Vegas drivers were paying $2.13 a gallon.

“The trend for 2010 has really been a roller coaster ride with gas prices,” AAA Nevada spokesman Michael Geeser. “They’ve gone up and down and up and down and down again, and now we’re up for the past month.”

Geeser says the global market is driving up gasoline prices. “China’s demand went up 30 percent compared to a month ago last year, which signals a manufacturer country like China is really starting to use more product.”

Geeser says despite global conditions, Nevada drivers did not see price hikes the rest of the country did in the past month. Likewise, while prices are going up, they are still lower than the record prices drivers paid in June 2008.

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