Gas prices always rise as winter winds down because demand increases and gas stations must switch over to more expensive summer fuel. No matter the cause, rising gas prices are bad news for consumers already frustrated by the cost of living. And they undercut the election year message of a White House that previously pointed to cheap gas prices as evidence that Bidenomics is working. First, oil prices — the main driver of retail gas prices — tend to increase during this time of the year. For instance, without the usual backstop, last summer’s historic heatwave that knocked some refineries offline unexpectedly lifted gas prices across the country.

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