Gasoline on the rise in the Midwest

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file...MNG50OUPG71.DTL
Gasoline prices ready to hit new high in S.F.
David R. Baker

Although San Francisco's average gasoline price reached $3.34 Thursday, individual stations were charging as much as $3.98.

And yes, that's $3.98 for regular. Want premium? At least one San Francisco station was charging $4.18 per gallon.

The national average for a gallon of regular stands at $2.62, up 48 cents since the end of January. California's average is $3.22, up 70 cents in the same period. No other state average tops $3 per gallon, although Hawaii might pass that mark this weekend.

Blame huge refinery profit margins, falling gasoline production, tensions with Iran and American drivers themselves, who are -- believe it or not -- buying more gas now than they did last year.