The Doors song goes “girl, we couldn’t get much higher.” Oh yes we can. Gasoline prices moved 4.5 cents higher than last week, setting a new record high, according to AAA’s Weekend Gas Watch. The national average for gasoline is now $1.857. The price of crude oil increased to more than $39 a barrel this week, a 13-year high, due to speculation on wholesale markets, said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. Motorists can expect gas prices to go even higher next week due to increased demand and continued shortage. This year, 41 states have set new record high prices and by next week the number of states with new record highs is expected to reach 48. A Beatles song is more apropos – “Help!” The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at metropolitan destinations throughout the nation. Average prices of regular gas as of 12:01 a.m., May 7: Area, Price, Change from last week, Record Price National Average $1.857 +4.5 cents $1.857 (5/6/2004) New York $2.001 +3.7 cents $2.001 (5/6/2004) Washington $1.873 +3.3 cents $1.873 (5/6/2004) Boston $1.813 +4.8 cents $1.813 (5/6/2004) Philadelphia $1.826 +3.7 cents $1.826 (5/6/2004) Atlanta $1.737 +5.4 cents $1.737 (5/6/2004) Miami $1.871 +2.7 cents $1.871 (5/6/2004) Chicago $2.013 +9.1 cents $2.142 (6/19/2000) Detroit $1.885 +7.1 cents $2.137 (6/20/2000) Kansas City, Mo. $1.761 +8.6 cents $1.790 (6/21/2000) St. Louis $1.836 +7.2 cents $1.836 (5/6/2004) Denver $1.823 +1.6 cents $1.832 (4/20/2004) Dallas $1.733 +3.6 cents $1.733 (5/6/2004) Houston $1.713 +4.1 cents $1.713 (5/6/2004) Salt Lake City $1.927 +2.8 cents $1.927 (5/6/2004) Las Vegas $2.138 +1.4 cents $2.138 (4/24/2004) Phoenix $2.045 +3.2 cents $2.146 (8/26/2003) Seattle $2.111 +7.3 cents $2.111 (5/6/2004) San Francisco $2.255 +2.1 cents $2.294 (4/10/2004) Honolulu $2.091 +1.9 cents $2.091 (5/6/2004)