Above $3 a gallon is not uncommon in many areas today:

Gasoline prices surged above $3 a gallon in many parts of the country Wednesday and shortages cropped up in some areas as supply disruptions from Hurricane Katrina widened.

Gas prices jumped by more than 50 cents a gallon overnight in Ohio, 40 cents in Georgia and 30 cents in Maine. The increases followed price spikes on wholesale and futures markets after the hurricane knocked off-line refineries and pipeline links along the Gulf Coast that provide about a third of the country's gasoline supplies.

Concerns are now mounting over limited supplies of gasoline, including the possible return of long lines and gas rationing reminiscent of the 1970s gas crisis.

"There is a possibility that we will see some form of rationing with the conditions being as bad or worse than many people thought," said Fred Allvine, an oil industry expert with the Georgia Institute of Technology.

This week's increase come on top of a 40 percent price rise in the last year that pushed up the average retail price of unleaded regular to $2.61 a gallon nationwide last week, Energy Department figures show.