Washington (Platts)--7Apr2008

US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman on Monday said he is "concerned" the
average price of retail gasoline in the US could hit $3.50/gal as driving
season approaches.

"I'm concerned that we could hit $3.50, but I'd like to believe that we
could not get to $4," Bodman said at the Energy Information Administration's
2008 Energy Conference. "I don't make forecasts. Whatever it is, it is."

Bodman also said he was "optimistic" OPEC would raise its production. But
the producers' group ignored requests by the Bush administration to raise its
output at meetings earlier this year.

--Alexander Duncan, alexander_duncan@platts.com