All around the world people have been subject to the rollercoaster ride that gas prices have been taking.

In 2008, gasoline hit an all time high, and now gas prices have finally started to drop. Over the past month we have seen prices as low as $1.50.

At the beginning of the week the prices of gas started to rise again with an ending price of $1.67 as of Friday afternoon a $.16 raise.

“Many officials are being optimistic about the 2009 year. Some feel that it will be a better year than 2008,” said Clay Ingram Public Relations and Marketing Manager of AAA Alabama.

The price of gas keeps moving up and down to many outside forces including the war overseas, the price of the dollar rising and weather.

The war is making the gas prices change due to the fear of not being able to get as much gas from foreign countries. The U.S. dollar’s value is finally rising some making the price of gas rise as well.

“Any time you have an increase in the value of the dollar then you have an increase in the amount that you pay for things,” Ingram said.

Another factor that is taking a toll on the gas prices is the cold weather in the northern region of the states. As the weather gets colder and they burn more crude oil the price starts to rise to meet that demand.

“Right now the demand for gas is not going up so the rising prices should correct themselves and go back down before we hit the high points in the spring time,” Ingram said.