COLUMBIA -- The price at the pump in Columbia is still climbing as summer draws near.
According to Columbia GasPrices.com, on average, motorists are paying $2.65 per gallon.
That's up 2.5 cents over last week, and 3.6 cents over last month at this time. Compared to last year, prices are over 74 cents higher.
The good news is that we're still below the national average by 21 cents.
Oil prices broke the $85 per barrel mark last week and experts say we're entering a delicate season for refining facilities and the oil market.
As the summer driving season heats up, we can expect those numbers to keep rising, but analysts say that it shouldn't hurt as much as the summer of 2008. They predict the price will average over $3 per gallon.
To see what people are paying at a gas station in your area, visit our Pain at the Pump page.