Perhaps we celebrated too soon. Gas prices that hit a sweet spot a few weeks ago are now back at irritating levels with the Labor Day holiday looming.

What caused the increase to an average of $3.75 for a gallon of regular in the Chicago region Wednesday?

One significant factor is extreme weather midmonth. Severe thunderstorms and flooding Aug. 19, disrupted operations at the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana, which was temporarily shut down, AAA spokesperson Molly Hart explained.

“This situation has contributed to the recent increase in gas prices. While two parts of the refinery are now operational, we can expect higher prices to persist until after Labor Day,” Hart said.

The slightly good news is that gas cost $3.85 a year ago.

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