The price of gasoline in the Pittsburgh area shot past the $3 mark during the past week, in defiance of seasonal norms, as crude oil futures rallied to multi-year highs. "Crude prices are likely to stay high and go higher. Same for gasoline," said Frederic Murphy of Temple's Fox School of Business. The average national price for gasoline on Christmas has never topped $3. That record could fall this year. "Say we have some big snowstorm and it disrupts the system," Murphy said. "The price will definitely go over $3."