the national average stood at $3.78 on tuesday, and lynda baquero spoke with an expert to find out whyn anytime soon >> reporter: rising summer temperatures are driving a rise in price tesss at the pump. >> it's ridiculous the price of fuel everything is up. >> they're astronomical. >> we are seeing the highest gasoline prices for the year >> reporter: the senior public affairs manager at aaa northeast says oil and gas production along the gulf coast is being hit by the heat. >> it's above 95, and even higher they start having problems in having to shut down or curtail their operations. that creates little maini shortages, quote-unquote, and it leads to higher prices >> reporter: pasake saic county averaging 3.72 in conicut, $3.82. here, $3.90 a gallon a year ago, prices were much higher.51. >> i'm herday,'m pg little bit more. but likething, food, gas, the prices are just crazy right now. >> reporter: aaa predicts when ouould fuel costs smooth driving season, day, summer driving cuts back the amount of demand and gasoline goes down, and prices usually fall and bottom out sometime in d