Traverse City -- Two telltale signs remind Jodi Priest that spring is right around the corner.
Snow once piled high along local roads has begun to melt, and she's forking out more money at the gas pump.
"Spring's coming, so gas prices are going up," said Priest, 31, of Interlochen.
Priest pumped about $80 into her tank Friday at Mutual Service Station along U.S. 31 South in Traverse City. She frequents the gas station about three times a week, which equates to a weekly gas budget of more than $200.
"I only come here because it's always the cheapest," she said.
The Mutual Service Station sold regular unleaded gasoline for $2.69 a gallon Friday morning while the Speedway station next door came in at $2.75 a gallon.
Gas prices increased this week throughout the state, jumping 15 cents per gallon at some local pumps.
"It's not unusual for this time of year," said Nancy Cain, AAA Michigan spokeswoman. "Typically in March we tend to see prices come up a bit."
Statewide, gas prices increased by about 5 cents per gallon this week, according to AAA reports.
Shane Porchard, of Marathon Petroleum Co., blames a price increase on the rising cost of crude oil. A barrel of crude oil cost about $80 this week -- nearly $10 more than last month.
But aside from crude oil prices, supply and demand plays a major role in gas price fluctuation.
"Demand goes up for summer driving," said Bill McCarthy, executive vice president of Blarney Castle Oil Co. "It's that simple."
Priest said it's difficult to cut back on travels with kids involved in day care and school activities. She now tries to run all of her errands at once instead of making repeat trips to Traverse City from Interlochen.
But she doesn't mind spending $2.70 per gallon, just as long as she doesn't see gas prices hit $4 per gallon. Locals spent an average of $4.26 per gallon on regular unleaded gasoline in July 2008, according to AAA reports.
"It'll go up, but hopefully it doesn't get that high," she said.
McCarthy said it's too early to speculate on summer gas prices, but he doesn't expect them to top $4 per gallon.
"I don't feel that we're going to have a catastrophic summer as far as gas goes," he said.
