By Robert Pore
robert.pore@theindependent.com
Gas prices soared overnight throughout Nebraska, according to the Nebraska AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

The statewide average, according to Nebraska AAA Saturday, was a record $3.453 for regular unleaded gasoline. That was nearly a four cent increase from Friday. A year ago, the average statewide gasoline price was $2.858 cents per gallon.

Also, the average price of diesel set a new record at $4.095 per gallon.

Setting records overnight, according to Nebraska AAA, were: Columbus, $3.419, up 8 cents per gallon; Lincoln,, $3.506, up 6 cents per gallon; Norfolk, $3.556, up 20 cents per gallon; and Omaha, $3.438, up 3 cents per gallon.

In Grand Island, Nebraska AAA reported that average gasoline price on Saturday was $3.432, up 5 cents from the day before, but still shy of the record set May 23, 2007, when the average price of regular gasoline was $3.481 per gallon.

Kearney and North Platte were also short of their all-time high prices.

Diesel prices across the state ranged from a high of $4.142 per gallon in North Platte to $4.059 per gallon in Omaha.

Nationwide, a record high was set today (4/19/08) at $3.474 per gallon for regular gasoline and $4.186 per gallon for diesel.

According to the Associated Press, crude oil futures set a new record of $117 a barrel on Friday.

AP reported that, "The price of crude oil was pushed higher after a militant group in Nigeria said it had sabotaged a major oil pipeline operated by a Royal Dutch Shell PLC joint venture and promised further attacks on the country's petroleum industry."

Nigeria is a major supplier of oil to the U.S.

The escalation in crude prices threatened to further boost gasoline costs.

The AP reported that some analysts expect gas prices to peak near $3.80 a gallon; the Energy Department, in a recent forecast, said prices could average $4 a gallon nationally at times.