The price of crude oil dipped below 1-hundred dollars per barrel on Friday... but Hurricane Ike has caused prices to remain high at the pump.

LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

At a gas station in Bethesda, Maryland, Michael Corocoran fills up his station wagon with premium gas. [NAT: Sound of GAS pumping]

THIS 4.19 SOUNDS KIND OF HIGH ACTUALLY BUT I REMEMBER IT BEING 4.59.

Kaare Wieneke…also at the same gas station…puts 20 dollars worth of regular gas into his red truck.

IT'S 3.89 HERE IT JUST SEEMED TO GO UP OVER NIGHT.

Inside, Hassen Walle works the register. Though he's not responsible for determining gas prices at the station…he says it's increased by about 10 cents since last week.

I WAS WORKING THURSDAY, I'M NOT WORKING FRIDAY. WHEN I CAME IN IS GOING UP YA.

Triple-A Mid-Atlantic announced in a press release that Hurricane Ike is to blame for high gas prices. They say it could get worse since most of the refineries don't have power and it could take weeks before they do.

But Anastasia Khoo, another customer, thinks the hurricane is an excuse for gas stations and companies to raise prices.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE OF GAS STATIONS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION. I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S HAD SUCH AN EFFECT ON REFINING AND ALL THAT. I THINK IT'S PEOPLE BEING OPPORTUNISTIC.

Triple- A says 25 percent of U.S. crude oil is produced in the Gulf region.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News.