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COLUMBIA (WACH)— A “cause for concern,” are the words of GasBuddy.com’s Senior Petroleum Analyst  Gregg Laskoski, citing the fact that the trend for the last 7 years the average peak for gas prices has been between $.93 and $1.31 per gallon over the average January 1 price.

Laskoski says that 2011 is a good example, when gas prices closed out 2010 with a national average of $3.05 a gallon, reaching a peak in 2011 of $3.96 per gallon.

GasBuddy.com’s Patrick DeHaan says that with the annual summertime rise in gas prices, if national prices don’t move closer to the $3 per gallon mark, gas could be over $4 per gallon by spring.

According to ColumbiaGasPrices.com, the average price of gas in Columbia on January 1 was $3.08 per gallon.

Columbia average "start price" to peak retail gasoline prices:

2007:
Start Price: $2.15/g on 1/1/2007
Peak Price: $3.01/g on 5/21/2007
Difference: 86.8 cents per gallon

2008:
Start Price: $2.90/g on 1/1/2008
Peak Price: $4.20/g on 9/14/2008
Difference: 130.6 cents per gallon

2009:
Start Price: $1.40/g on 1/1/2009
Peak Price: $2.55/g on 6/13/2009
Difference: 115.4 cents per gallon

2010:
Start Price: $2.45/g on 1/1/2010
Peak Price: $2.91/g on 12/29/2010
Difference: 46.0 cents per gallon

2011:
Start Price: $2.90/g on 1/1/2011
Peak Price: $3.74/g on 5/5/2011
Difference: 84.3 cents per gallon

DeHaan did point out that past performance is no indication of future prices.

If you want to find the cheapest gas in your area, simply click on the Pain at the Pump link.