BY Steve Puterski
NORTH COUNTY — Gas prices are already heading toward record levels and according to an industry expert, they will spike significantly over the next seven days.
Patrick De Haan has analyzed gas prices and downstream oil markets since 2009 with GasBuddy and since 2005 when he was a professor at Grand Valley State University (Mich.). He said recent issues with oil refineries in Southern California will lead to at least another 15- to 35-cent jump per gallon in the next seven days.
It could be as high as 50 cents, De Haan said, noting unexpected refinery outages and regular maintenance schedules have caused a massive drop in refined oil. In an interview with North County Pipeline, he said gas stations saw wholesale prices shoot up 29 cents in San Diego, which was the highest in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
