WASHINGTON (WUSA) -- You've noticed by now gas prices are creeping up, and AAA predicts we'll get back to $4 a gallon by the spring.
Gas has already hit a record for this time of year, averaging $3.39 a gallon for regular nationwide as of Monday.
AAA says that's 30 cents higher than this time last year. AAA Mid Atlantic says this is the highest prices have ever been at the start of the year.
Looking ahead to the summer driving season, GasBuddy predicts some of us will pay almost $5 a gallon by Memorial Day, especially drivers in Chicago and New York.
Problems like the standoff with Iran as well as the US economic recovery appear to be driving up oil prices.