Commuting to summer school could become more expensive for students this year because of the increasing cost of gas.

Anna Hoffman, senior in marketing, said she is very concerned about the rising cost. She makes an hour-and-a-half commute twice a week from Moravia in southeast Iowa.

“I drive a vehicle that requires a lot of gas and gets lower gas mileage,” Hoffman said. “Right now, I spend about $80 a week just on gas.”

Hoffman said gas prices will have a huge impact on her this summer when she has class every day for a month.

“I decided that I have to buy a car in order to cut back on the amount of money I spend on gas,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman said she believes this will be a problem for any student commuting to school this summer. She said students will probably have to work extra hours just to afford the drive to school.

Arne Hallam, professor and chairman of economics, said there are a number of factors contributing to the increase. The United States is experiencing more economic growth as the country comes out of a recession, he said.

“People are buying more, more products have to be distributed, so the price of gasoline goes up,” Hallam said.

Hallam said the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has made some comments about restricting supply and it isn’t sure how much oil it has.

Ethanol gas is also causing prices to increase because it is more expensive to produce, he said.

In fact, gas prices are already going up a little each week, said Charlene Mullin, owner of Char’s Amoco, 3100 S. Duff Ave.

Mullin said the station is trying to keep prices as low as possible, but when new loads of gas come in and the gas station has to pay more, then it will be forced to raise the price.

Mullin predicts gas will get up to about $2 per gallon this summer.

“People have to have gas,” Mullin said. “They will probably think twice about going on trips and more people will start carpooling.”

Mullin said a lot of the pricing depends on a combination of things such as war, the economy and interest rates.

The summer season tends to jump the price of crude oil, too, she said.

“It all comes down to supply and demand,” Mullin said.

Hallam agreed there is a higher seasonal demand for gas during the summer.

“The demand goes up, the supply stays the same, and therefore the price of gas will go up,” Hallam said.