No pain at the pump this Memorial Day

While gas prices always have some degree of unpredictability, there is generally a reliable (OK, reliable-ish) seasonal ebb and flow. Typically, prices at the pump rise hand in hand with temperatures. As days grow longer and warmer, drivers hit the road more. Demand for gasoline rises, as do prices, with steady increases mixed in with occasional spikes in spring and summer. Later, prices tend to retreat with the arrival of colder days. That’s how things typically work. Thus far, 2013 hasn’t been remotely typical.

While gas prices always have some degree of unpredictability, there is generally a reliable (OK, reliable-ish) seasonal ebb and flow. Typically, prices at the pump rise hand in hand with temperatures. As days grow longer and warmer, drivers hit the road more. Demand for gasoline rises, as do prices, with steady increases mixed in with occasional spikes in spring and summer. Later, prices tend to retreat with the arrival of colder days. That’s how things typically work. Thus far, 2013 hasn’t been remotely typical.

The state's average gasoline price, though down 5.5 cents from a week earlier, is still higher than during Memorial Day weekend 2008. Analysts say this summer's outlook is difficult to predict.California drivers will pay record gasoline prices over the Memorial Day weekend but could get relief in the weeks ahead — unless more unplanned refinery outages occur.

About the same number of Americans will travel this summer as last year, but most plan to scale back their spending to offset high fuel prices, according to recent surveys.With the summer travel season getting underway this weekend, many Southern Californians are concerned about the high cost of gasoline and airline tickets.

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown claims that excessive oil speculation is partly to blame for high oil and gas prices and recently called for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to intervene.

HOUSTON (AP) -- As tens of millions tank up and hit the road for Memorial Day weekend, gas prices are rising fast enough to revive painful memories of the $4-a-gallon summer of 2008....