Official prediction: gas will hit $3 this summer in U.S.

It's still awful cold in most parts of the country, and the DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) is looking ahead to summer. What do they see? $3 gallons of gas in the U.S. This isn't much of a jump from today's national average – and it's quite a drop from the highs of summer 2008 – but it could forecast some tough times ahead for people with gas-hungry vehicles. For all of 2010, the EIA's "Short-Term Energy Outlook" is predicting that gas will cost $2.84 per gallon. In 2011, this will jump to $2.96 per gallon. Diesel fuel, too, will apparently cost more in the coming years. The average in 2009 was $2.46 per gallon. Looking ahead, the EIA sees $2.98 average prices in 2010 and $3.14 in 2011. Data junkies can go here for all the details.

[Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration]