Anyone who drives regularly has noticed the considerable increase in the price of gasoline during the last six weeks.

Not only are the increases heavily affecting consumers, but as summer approaches, these increases will also affect vacationers in the form of hi gher travel expenses.

As of Monday, gasoline prices in Auburn were about $1.26 per gallon for 87 octane, $1.40 for 89 octane and $1.50 for 92 octane. These prices have risen rapidly compared with prices from recent months, and they are expected to con tinue to rise.

A spokesman for Wilson Oil Co. Inc. attributes the increases to numerous factors within the oil industry.

"The American Petroleum Institute reports that the gas supply is 11 million gallons smaller than it was last year at this time .

"The loss of a Shell refinery in Louisiana contributed to this," the spokesman said.

Coupled with this deficit, he said the sales talks between Iraq and the United Nations could be another factor contributing to the price increases.

Successful negotiations with Iraq would lead to decreases in gasoline prices, he said.

Increases in gas prices across the nation are fairly uniform. J. B. Stokely, president of Blackburn Oil Co. Inc. of Opelika, said, "As far as I understand, increases in gasol ine pricing are basically consistent nationwide.

Stokely discussed the politics involved in the oil business, explaining that it is difficult to disti nguish what exactly has caused the increase in gas prices.

Consumer response to the increases varies, but everyone is feeling the effects of the increases.

Rev. Bob Prim, an Auburn resident, said, "I usually put premium in my car. Lately, I have n ot been doing so because gas prices have become so expensive."

Sherry Holmes, 03CLA, also expressed distress at the increases. "I live in Waverly, and I feel like I spend more on gas than I do on rent, as of late.

"I feel like I need to fill up ev ery time I pass a gas station, because it seems like if I wait another day prices will be even higher," she said.

Claire Peterson, 03HRM, shared these sentiments. "To raise (gas prices) is absurd. I don't like the fact that I need 92 extra cents to f ill my tank. It all adds up."

Many Auburn students are upset by the discrepancy between gas prices in Alabama and Georgia. Some students venture across state lines to fill up their tanks.

The spokesman for Wilson Oil Co. Inc. said, "The state tax o n gasoline in Alabama is 10 cents higher than in Georgia." There is also a two-cent gasoline tax implemented by the city of Auburn.

Higher prices are not only bad for consumers, but they also have negative effects on corporations such as Wilson Oil Co . Inc. According to its spokesman, lower gasoline prices greatly improve the Wilson Oil Co. Inc. business.