From Tire Review

The U.S. Energy Information Administration has announced that the national average for gasoline prices will probably jump ahead of $3.50 by summer and could even exceed $4 per gallon.

At the same time, the EIA’s January Short Term Energy Outlook, which predicts demand, supply and pricing, indicated that there was “significant uncertainty surrounding the forecast” for the pump price spike. Still, the EIA was more certain pump prices would average $3.17 per gallon this year and $3.29 in 2012.

Diesel prices are also continuing their upward climb, which will increase freight bills and further damage the economy. Diesel averaged $2.99 per gallon in 2010 and $2.46 per gallon in 2009, and now the EIA projects diesel prices to average $3.40 per gallon this year and $3.50 in 2012.
 
Higher pump prices would have a huge negative effect on driving miles, vehicle service and tire sales, not to mention serving as another deterrent to much needed job growth.