If you've had to fill up your car last week, you know by now that gas prices have shot up awfully quickly.
According to AAA, the average price of gas in Louisiana has shot up by more than 20 cents over the last week. Last week, the average price for a gallon of regular-grade gasoline was about $3.10. This week, the average price is $3.31.
While some people are quick to blame politicians or oil companies, one analyst says Americans should look elsewhere for the cause of rising gas prices.
"These things happen because of markets," Dr. Greg Upton, associate research professor at LSU's Center for Energy Studies told WWL's Tommy Tucker. "It's not always some politician's fault. I think we like to find a bogeyman to blame for things. Prices fluctuate and what happens on global markets and global geopolitics is out of anyone's control."
Still, Dr. Upton says American leaders are looking for ways to reduce those prices. One of those ways, Upton says, is lifting sanctions placed on Venezuela by the Trump Administration.
"What we're hearing is that President Biden is trying to reconsider these sanctions (and) perhaps allow for Chevron to increase oil production in that country hopefully to bring supply on the global market to put downward pressure on prices," Upton said.
Can the United States drill its way to lower gas prices?
"No, it's not that simple at all," Upton said, noting that the United States can never truly be oil independent.
Upton adds that policies attempting to restrict U-S petroleum imports and exports would actually hurt consumers.
"Consumers would have higher prices in the long run than they would in a world where you allow for that international trade, and that's what economic theory would suggest," Upton said.
