Gas prices have risen more than 10 cents a gallon in the Tristate over the past two weeks, with Greater Cincinnati continuing to exceed the national average and with more increases expected in coming weeks.

        According to the AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report, the average price of a gallon nationally Thursday was $1.57. The average in the Ohio portion of the Tristate was $1.63; that's about 31 cents a gallon higher than in 2000.

        More increases are expected, based on several factors:

        • Seasonally higher crude oil prices.

        • Higher costs to producers associated with the reintroduction of cleaner-burning fuels, which on June 1 hit major markets, including Louisville and Chicago.

        • Simple supply and demand. In the U.S., demand rises as driving vacations increase.

        None of this was news to Constance Hosmer of Reading, who spent a minute of her 68th birthday on Thursday filling up at a Marathon station in Symmes Township.

        “Well, I think somebody's making a lot of money,” she said as she began to fill up her Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.

        “I was shocked last week, in Clifton, to see it for $1.36,” she recalled.

        Local prices have risen steadily since reaching this year's low of $1.31 on March 8. According to AAA, prices in the Midwest continue to be higher than those in the Southwest, Southeast, New England and Mid-Atlantic states. The highest rates were in the West, at $1.64 per gallon.

        “The most important thing is, we don't know exactly how high they'll go,” said AAA Cincinnati spokeswoman Jennifer Ledonne.

        To families making summer-vacation plans, Ms. Ledonne urged them to “pick a number that's a high gas price, whatever that is, and plan a fuel budget based on that.”

        Leslie Barber, 43, of Norwood, said her family will forego a driving vacation this year in part because of rising gas prices.

        “It's crazy, but I have four kids and have to cut corners,” she said as she filled her Ford Aerostar at a Shell station in Norwood.

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