It’s spring, so how high will gas prices go this year?

(Harrisburg) — As temperatures climb, gas prices often do as well.While predictions show a surge yet again this year, it might not be as bad as 2013.

In fact, Pennsylvania has actually bucked the national average.In March, the statewide average gas price was lower than in February, while48 of the 50 states saw the average inch up.

Prices often increase in the spring as a new gas formula is phased in and demand increases.

“They could head up as much as 20 cents a gallon as we go through the spring. So expect to pay a little bit more. It’s not quite as bad as last year. Now if you look at last year, we had an unusual situation where gas prices peaked very very early.”

This will also be the first spring and summer under the transportation funding bill, which uncapped a tax on the wholesale gas price.

“When we looked at gas prices shortly after that time, after the first of the year, we did see that pretty much, the price increase was passed on to consumers. However, thanks to market forces, that price increase has sort of leveled off and moderated,” saysJenny Robinson of AAA Mid Atlantic.

However, Robinson says the monthly average for March in Pennsylvania was the lowest in four years.

Robinson says she doesn’t expect prices to hit last year’s high of $3.79 for a gallon of unleaded gas.