Gasoline price jumps almost always occur because of price gouging by the big oil companies. What ...

While such price-gouging may play a role, the rise in price is almost always tied
to some event. Examples include wars in the Middle East, natural events such as a hurricane
that can disrupt production in the Gulf of Mexico and may interfere with tanker on- or
offloading, and political instability in a country that is an oil exporter.
One event that will certainly get attention will occur when it is recognized that peak
production of oil will have occurred. This will probably lead to a permanent rise in oil price,
and thence to a permanent rise in the cost of gasoline.