During  the 2012 election cycle each week I took a virtual trip across the US  of A to check out how much pain there was at the gas pump. The last such  National Snapshot was conducted on November 5, 2012, the day before the  general election. In the three and a half months since the election  most drivers across the country have seen steady increases in the amount  it costs to fill up the tank.

Industry  and news sources indicate the steady incline in what is being shelled  out is due to a number of factors. Being blamed is the cost for a barrel of  crude oil, an early transition from winter grade to summer grade  gasoline and debatable, the improving US economy. The closure and  maintenance of some refineries is also being cited as a reason for the  steep climb in pump rates. Experts say that prices should peak in April.  But as we all know such projections do not always match reality.

Here  in the Cornfield, gas costs ranged from $3.64 up 62 cents in the state  capitol of Indianapolis to $3.77 up 53 cents in Terre Haute and $3.86 up  57 cents in the Cornfield, all increased since November 5, 2012.

What I found is that in 10 locations, mostly in the West Mountain  States, the price of gas was down compared to November 5th when it was  35. Those seeing an increase were 41 locations compared to 9 when the  last National Snapshot was conducted. That means in 0 locations the pump  reading was unchanged compared to 7 the day before the election.

The current national average gas cost is $3.498 up 21.5 cents from  November 5, 2012. Oil per barrel is $85.69 up $10.22 per barrel since  the general election.

To compare today's findings with the last National Snapshot the day before the 2012 general election:

http://fromthecornfield.com/blog1.php/national-gas-prices-a-snapshot-13

Once more we turn to the good folks at GasBuddy.com to get an idea what happened with gas costs over the past three and a half months.

Montgomery, Alabama: $3.49 up 40 cents per gallon
Anchorage, Alaska: $3.65 down 29 cents per gallon
Phoenix, Arizona: $3.43 up 4 cents per gallon
Little Rock, Arkansas: $3.49 up 51 cents per gallon
Los Angeles, California: $4.05 up 41 cents per gallon
Denver, Colorado: $3.27 down 1 cent per gallon
Hartford, Connecticutt: $3.71 up 16 cents per gallon
Wilmington, Delaware: $3.59 up 24 cents per gallon
Orlando, Florida: $3.16 up 43 cents per gallon
Atlanta, Georgia: $3.49 up 37 cents per gallon
Honolulu, Hawaii: $4.09 up 15 cents per gallon
Boise, Idaho: $3.39 down 14 cents per gallon
Peoria, Illinois: $3.65 up 42 cents per gallon
Indianapolis, Indiana: $3.64 up 62 cents per gallon
Des Moines, Iowa: $3.69 up 57 cents per gallon
Topeka, Kansas: $3.37 up 27 cents per gallon
Lexington, Kentucky: $3.39 up 24 cents per gallon
New Orleans, Louisiana: $3.43 up 34 cents per gallon
Bangor, Maine: $3.81 up 39 cents per gallon
Baltimore, Maryland: $3.51 up 28 cents per gallon
Boston, Massachusetts: $3.49 up 4 cents per gallon
Grand Rapids, Michigan: $3.84 up 71 cents per gallon
Minneapolis, Minnesota: $3.72 up 63 cents per gallon
Jackson, Mississippi: $3.19 up 20 cents per gallon
St. Louis, Missouri: $3.49 up 54 cents per gallon
Billings, Montana: $2.97 down 49 cents per gallon
Omaha, Nebraska: $3.64 up 48 cents per gallon
Las Vegas, Nevada: $3.44 down 9 cents per gallon
Manchester, New Hampshire: $3.63 up 18 cents per gallon
Trenton, New Jersey: $3.49 up 12 cents per gallon
Albuquerque, New Mexico: $3.12 down 8 cents per gallon
Long Island, New York: $3.85 up 26 cents per gallon
Raleigh, North Carolina: $3.58 up 43 cents per gallon
Fargo, North Dakota: $3.36 up 12 cents per gallon
Columbus, Ohio: $3.65 up 50 cents per gallon
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: $3.45 up 51 cents per gallon
Portland, Oregon: $3.41 down 2 cents per gallon
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: $3.59 up 10 cents per gallon
Providence, Rhode Island: $3.65 up 13 cents per gallon
Columbia, South Carolina: $3.45 up 48 cents per gallon
Sioux Falls, South Dakota: $3.58 up 30 cents per gallon
Nashville, Tennessee: $3.36 up 32 cents per gallon
Dallas, Texas: $3.35 up 36 cents per gallon
Salt Lake City, Utah: $3.19 down 34 cents per gallon
Burlington, Vermont: $3.79 up 4 cents per gallon
Richmond, Virginia: $3.36 up 34 cents per gallon
Seattle, Washington: $3.49 up 24 cents per gallon
Washington, DC: $3.77 up 40 cents per gallon
Charleston, West Virginia: $3.49 down 1 cent per gallon
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: $3.69 up 53 cents per gallon
Cheyenne, Wyoming: $3.05 down 27 cents per gallon

From  the Cornfield, there you have the latest National Snapshot. Perhaps  with the wallet feeling lighter and lighter each time we pull into the  gas station, I may have to renew the National Snapshot as a weekly  feature.

NOTE: Image 1 taken 2/19/13 in Shelburn, Indiana. Image 2 taken 2/19/13 in Farmersburg, Indiana.