Gasoline prices went soaring this month as talk of the threat ofwar with Iraq increased, but consumers could possibly see somerelief this week, according to oil and gasoline suppliers in thearea.

“It looks like things are going to stabilize and maybe gobackwards, but prices are so volatile right now that no one knowswhat to expect,” said Ken Powell, president of R.B. Wall OilCompany.

Prices in the area rose an average of six to seven cents atpumps in southwest Mississippi in the last week. A slow down hasbeen noticed in recent days.

“We went from $1.33 to $1.39 in just a week,” said Susan Holmes,owner of the BP station in Monticello.

Gas station owners say they don’t like raising the prices anymore than customers like seeing the hikes, but the situation is outof their hands.

“Everybody fusses, but I tell them why. I don’t have any otherchoice,” said Sally Fuller, manager of Super Jack Truck Stop.

Oil suppliers tried to maintain their prices, but after seeingprices take jumps of averaging seven to 10 cents in October, theywere forced to raise prices.

“We’ve seen some incredible increases at the daily rack prices.We absorb some of that, but eventually we have to pass some of thecosts to the consumers,” said Powell.

He hopes the trend of prices staying steady this week willcontinue, so pump prices can come down some during a time of yearusually marked with lower prices.

Gas prices tend to drop between the end of summer and thebeginning of Christmas holidays. The national average is up fourcents from a month ago and 10 cents higher than a year ago.

Discussion of war with Iraq by the Bush administration has beenconnected to the increase in gasoline prices because Iraq is amajor supplier of oil to the United States.

“We really don’t know what’s going to happen with our prices,but we’re hoping it will eventually settle down,” said Powell.