In the past two days, our local convenience store has raised its gas prices by 10 cents…five cents each day. This seems to be the trend at all the local North Country stations in the past few days as well. A quick search of the internet did not reveal any change in the price for a barrel of crude oil. Even if there was an increase in the barrel price, why is there always an immediate increase at the pump? Even though that fuel won't reach the pumps for months? Yet, when the price for a barrel goes down it takes weeks for any significant price change. And please, don't give me the old story of how the refineries are switching over to their summer blend, which costs more to produce! This is nothing more than price gouging. This is a matter that all of our elected officials should investigate and take action on immediately.