Post photo by B. Fitzgerald

The supply of gas in the Great Lakes area has exceeded demand recently, causing prices to drop to $2.40 in Cedar Springs early this week. But the high inventory was not enough to stop prices from spiking again on Wednesday, to $2.59 per gallon. According to Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst at gasbuddy.com, wholesale costs increased in areas of the Midwest Tuesday, after the U.S. dollar weakened against other currencies and key manufacturing indexes rose. Some see that as perhaps signaling a strengthening of the U.S. economy, which would bolster fuel demand.