WASHINGTON, DC -- Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced yesterday during testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the Energy Department would conduct an inquiry into recent increases in gasoline prices.  The Energy Information Administration, the Department's autonomous statistical arm, will conduct the inquiry.

The inquiry will compare recent supply and demand factors affecting gasoline prices, such as the August 14 blackout, refinery production, seasonal demand, crude oil and gasoline inventories, and infrastructure issues, against historical data to determine if these factors explain the recent price increases.

The results of the inquiry will be made available to the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Congress.

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