By Tim Jimenez

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There’s been a spike in gas prices over the past week and there’s no sign of them going down anytime soon.

You may have noticed while filling up, that gas prices are significantly higher.

“Gas prices are up 11 cents in the last week in the five-county Philadelphia area at an average of $3.58 a gallon. So, pretty painful,” says AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Jenny Robinson.

The national average gas price is $3.46 a gallon which Robinson says is the second highest price on record for the month, only behind last year.

What’s to blame? Robinson says a seven week rally of crude oil prices.

“Prices are heading towards $100 per barrel. If crude oil prices continue to rise, gas prices are likely to follow suit.”

Bad news for drivers, since there will be even higher demand in the spring. But AAA expects those numbers to fall short of last year’s record prices.