Bucking historic trends, fuel prices across Colorado increased in September following a fairly stable summer.
Wave Dreher, AAA spokeswoman, said typically gas prices decline after Labor Day signaling the conclusion of the summer driving season, however this year prices recorded a slight uptick between three to five cents.
From Aug. 25 to Sept. 2 gas prices in Fort Collins rose 5-cents, from $2.71 to $2.76. Dreher isn't sure what caused the increase to this fall, but noted that gas prices have been very stable this year. Unlike previous summers where fuel prices shot up, this year prices at the pump remained stable.
Thursday, Fort Collins average fuel price was $2.72 per gallon. That is slightly above $2.37 on Sept. 30, 2009.
"This could be an extension of that stability," said Dreher, who predicts that fuel prices will decline throughout the fall and winter months as it has done historically.
The stability in fuel prices is directly tied to the economy. The economy has stabilized a bit since 2009 and crude oil prices have mirrored stock prices this year, Dreher said.
"The economy seems to be in a wait and see period," said Dreher, who also noted the absence of hurri-canes in the Gulf of Mexico this season has led to some security in fuel prices.
The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico did not affect fuel prices this summer because the offshore drill-ing was considered exploratory and not calculated as part of the nation's oil reserve, Dreher said.
