The average U.S. retail price for regular motor gasoline is up about 45 cents per gallon since the start of 2013, reaching $3.75 per gallon on February 18. The rise in gasoline prices is partly due to higher crude oil prices. However, most of the increase in the pump price of gasoline reflects an increase in the gasoline crack spread, the difference between the wholesale price of gasoline and the price of crude oil.
