RICHMOND (WINA) – Triple-A MidAtlantic is reporting gas prices stuck in neutral recently, but how long will that be? Morgan Dean says prior to the last week, we saw a steady climb because of an increase in demand and an increase in oil prices. However, in the past week, we’ve seen gas prices rises in Virginia slow down a bit to only a penny higher over the week before.

Another factor in rising prices was refineries slowed down in the record high temperatures that hit the Gulf Coast this summer, but Dean says those temps have moderated along with the price hikes.

Dean says we’re at a crossroads right now after West Texas Intermediate crude went from $67-a-barrel in late June to the mid-80s now, the highest it’s been since mid-April.

Which direction oil prices go is anyone’s guess.