Well after a Summer season of pretty good and pretty steady gas prices, we're starting to feel a little pain at the pump. Yesterday the average gas price was up over $2.60 a gallon. With the holidays just a month away, experts say we could see this higher price tag continue.

 Filling up your tank...has probably been emptying your wallet a little more this week. The average price in Sioux Falls is around $2.50 a gallon today. A month ago it was about ten cents cheaper. AAA's Mark Madeja says you can blame the price of crude oil for the change. "Today about 82 dollars a barrel where as all Summer long we've been in the 65 to 75 dollar range for crude."

 And with the holiday quickly approaching experts say they're hoping for the best, but unsure where the gas prices will stay.  "We're hoping that this is not going to be an ongoing situation that's really going to start to look like it's going to rise steadily over a long period of time"

 This year has been a tough one for South Dakota gas prices.
 In January, a gallon of regular unleaded was around $1.76 a gallon.
 In March, it rose to $1.95.
 By May, it was $2.30.
 In July, $2.51 a gallon.
 By September, $2.55 and now, $2.60.

 Mark Madeja says as the economy gets better, gas prices will continue to climb. "However once the economy does start to rebound consumers should expect higher gas prices simply because more people are going to be on the road. " 

 And here's quick break down of our tri-state area. we got these numbers from gasbuddy.com. Out of the area, South Dakota seems to have the lowest gas price average coming in between $2.50 a gallon and $2.57 on average. Minnesota is the next best at $2.57 to $2.64. Iowa seems to be the most expensive right now at $2.64 to $2.71. on average.

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