Gasoline prices jump in South Jersey - NBC40.net

"Outrageous!"

In New Jersey, drivers are shocked and outraged over the sharp jump in gas prices over the past week.

Commuting student Dante Holley said, "You just got to dig in your pocket more and more every day.  Its crazy."

As gas prices continue to climb throughout the country, customers in New Jersey say that the rising prices have made in difficult to get to work.  One frustrated driver in Vineland said, "How can you afford to even go to work? How can you afford to even have food on the table?  It's just too much, it's entirely too much."

Holley added, "It's kind of like a slap in the face, you know, because I'm a student out here working at the same time and I'm like, 'Man, so now I have to pay an extra $.30?  It just makes it harder for all of us out here."

The national gas price average has increased about 30 cents in one week.  Experts say there are several factors adding to the pain at the pump.

Sharon Eperson, a national correspondent from CNBC Business News, explained, "There's often a run-up in gasoline prices in February and March as refineries transition from making the winter grade to the summer grade of gasoline.  The summer blend is often more expensive and more costly to make, and that means more costs at the gas pump."

Although prices are high for right now, economists believe 2013's average gasoline prices will be lower than they were in 2012.