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Prediction: $5 Per Gallon For Gas By Late Summer

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — Gas prices may be dropping, but investment giant Goldman Sachs predicts prices could jump to $5 per gallon by later this summer.

Right now, AAA says metro Atlanta drivers are paying an average of $3.73 for a gallon of unleaded. That's down a penny from Sunday, and much cheaper than the $3.86 we paid last week.

Channel 2 investigative reporter Aaron Diamant traveled to Paulding County where drivers said a surge like Goldman Sachs predicts would be devastating.

Alicia Cuffy of Dallas just started getting used to paying less at the pump.

"It's been nice," Cuffy said. "I have six children, so its a great break for me"

Then we told her Goldman Sachs now estimates the price of oil could reach $135 a barrel by mid-July. That means consumers like Cuffy could see gas prices soar to $5 a gallon.

"For a single mom, its really hard," Cuffy replied.

We found some drivers having a hard time understanding what or who's to blame.

As far as I'm concerned, as a public citizen, it's a ripoff," said driver Chris Stevens.

Industry experts blame recent spikes, in part, on commodity traders bidding up the price based on everything from weather to world events. Predictions of another surge have even left retailers like Quick Trip on edge.

In an email, Quick Trip spokesman Mike Thornbrugh told us, "We hope the speculators from Goldman Sachs are wrong and that the economics of supply and trade set the market price not Goldman Sachs."

However, just the thought of $5 gas has some drivers weighing their options.

"I'd park [my truck] and get me a vehicle that gets better gas mileage," said Phillip Land of Dallas.

However, most drivers we spoke to admit they'll just have to suck it up and find somewhere else to cut back.

"Well, we do what we can," said Cuffy. "We still have to live. We still have to do what we have to do."

Keep in mind, this is just one prediction. Not every expert is on board with Goldman Sachs' opinion. Still, many of the drivers we spoke to told us they'll start planning for it should it happen.