A week and a half after metro-east gas prices reached their lowest point in 2012, $3.02 per gallon, the cost of fuel is rising steeply.

As of Thursday morning, gas at some stations in Belleville was selling for $3.35 a gallon.

Economic experts blame rising oil prices on the stalled "fiscal cliff" talks between President Barack Obama and Congressional Republicans, causing uncertainty in the market.

But, according to an American Automobile Association report, gas prices are expected to remain relatively low at least for the next couple of months.