TRAVERSE CITY -- As prices hit the $4.00 a gallon mark folks across northern Michigan are feeling the pain at the pump and want answers.
There are a lot of factors that experts say play into the rise of gas prices.
The unrest in the Middle East has eliminated 200 million barrels of oil a day from the market, which upsets the global supply and demand outlook.
The biggest contributor is the approaching summer driving season because stations are required by law to sell a cleaner burning gasoline.
GasBuddy.com Analysis Patrick DeHaan says, "We can't use the same fuel as we use in winter because it omits too much air pollution. So this new type we switch over to every year in May and June, it costs more to produce and the supply is generally low because refineries are just starting to refine it that's why prices go up every spring."
DeHaan says the weak U.S. dollar is another factor in what were paying for gas. He also expects prices to be up and down all summer long.
