It seems like the modern method of marketing a necessary commodity is to raise prices dramatically, at first. This gives you free news coverage plus a huge and sudden increase in profit. People watch and talk about your next move. It doesn't matter that the public has bad feelings because you corner the market on this one necessary commodity!
So, you've dramatically raised the price. Now you can lower the price, a little bit, to where you wanted to raise it in the first place. This move will again get you noticed! It's win-win...you get profit and free advertising! Life is good.
Seriously, you can monitor gas prices by going to a number of web sites including http://www.GasBuddy.Com where you can see the highest and the lowest gas prices in other states. Check it out.