Gasoline prices are at an unfriendly climb these days and the rise doesn’t seem to be subsiding. Prices are up about a quarter in the past two months and seven cents in the past two weeks. Gas prices vary tremendously depending on where you are in the country. People in California are paying $2.20 a gallon for regular gasoline. But regardless of where you are, the price has gone up because of supply issues. That is because the nation doesn’t have in reserve enough refined gasoline. Refined gasoline is what you get after you take a barrel of oil and refine it into gasoline. So, even if there is enough oil, only so much refined gasoline can get through the funnel. It’s leading to spot shortages around the country. The next most likely time for a spot shortage will be in late Spring when many areas of the country start making gasoline cocktails. These are special formulas of gasoline designed to deal with massive problems of auto pollution. They are not national standard formulas, and various states have different formulas. There should be just a few choices and states would be able to pick Choice A, B or C. But the reality right now is that even though gas prices will continue to go up and down, the price over time will steadily rise.