The Energy Department still expects pump prices to climb past $3 per gallon as more motorists hit the road in the spring and summer seasons.
In a report released Tuesday the Energy Information Administration says for the full year, it sees a national average price of $2.84 per gallon, up from an average price of $2.35 per gallon in 2009.
The EIA expects oil prices to average above $80 per barrel this spring, rising to an average of about $82 per barrel by the end of the year and to $85 per barrel by the end of 2011.
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