The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is predicting record high prices at the gas pump this year. In their February fuel-price survey issued yesterday, they noted that a continued climb in crude prices is keeping gas prices above $3 a gallon. DNR Program Planner Jim Bodensteiner said that “lowered demand and strong inventories” won’t be enough to push prices back down.

The fuel survey also tracks prices for propane (up 31 percent from last year), heating oil (up 42 percent from last year), natural gas (up 21 percent from last year) and diesel (up 43 percent from last year).The report, which is available from the DNR website, also compares West Texas Cushing Sweet Crude Oil from last month and last year. The crude-oil barrel prices rose 14 percent from January 2008 and have soared 66 percent from the same time last year. In February 2007, the price of a barrel of oil was $61.80. Last week, the Feb. 28 price of the sweet crude stuff was $102.60 per barrel.

A year ago, the average metro price for self-serve 10 percent ethanol was $2.18 per gallon; the February 2008 metro average was pegged at just above $3.

For the full press release, go to the DNR Web site: http://www.iowadnr.c…