DAVID GREENE, HOST: NPR's business news starts with a spike in gas prices.</s>DAVID GREENE, HOST: Gasoline prices jumped 18 cents over the last couple of weeks. That's the biggest increase so far this year. The Lundberg Survey shows that heading into the weekend, the national average price of a gallon of self-serve was $3.69. Now, analysts say the spike is in part because of some refinery and pipeline issues around the country.</s>DAVID GREENE, HOST: Also to blame, though, this summer's drought, particularly in the Midwest. It's pushing up the cost of corn-based ethanol.
Prices at the pump jumped 18 cents over the last couple weeks which is the biggest increase so far this year. The Lundberg Survey shows that heading into the weekend, the national average price of a gallon of self-serve was $3.69. Analysts say the spike is in part because of some refinery and pipeline issues across the country.