NEW YORK--The Lundberg survey on Sunday reported that the U.S. national average for self-serve unleaded regular rose only 1.26 cents to $1.74 a gallon in the two weeks ending March 12, according to Reuters. From Dec. 19 to Feb. 27, the price had jumped 24.26 cents.

"The surge is truly over, at least for now," said Trilby Lundberg, editor of the survey. "Although we cannot expect a price crash of about 25 cents a gallon to reverse what we have experienced, the chances of either moderate or no price increases in the near term are very, very high."

Lundberg attributes the small price increase to the fact that refineries have finished or are in the process of converting their operations to refining gasoline from refining heating oil.

The survey queried 8,000 gas stations across the country. The highest price found was $2.18 a gallon in San Diego, and the lowest price was $1.52 in Tulsa, Okla.