GasBuddy released its 2023 forecast and projected that gas prices would average $3.49 a gallon.

The past year saw extremes in the U.S. prices of gas at the pump. Gas prices averaged $5.03 per gallon in June 2022, the highest ever, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. But by December, gas had dropped to $3.32 a gallon.

“2023 is not going to be a cakewalk for motorists. It could be expensive,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, in a news release. “The national average could breach $4 per gallon as early as May – and that’s something that could last through much of the summer driving season. Basically, curveballs are coming from every direction. Extreme amounts of volatility remain possible, but should become slightly more muted in the year ahead. I don’t think we’ve ever seen such an amount of volatility as we saw this year, and that will be a trend that likely continues to lead to wider uncertainty over fuel prices going into 2023.”

“Additionally, as the world continues to navigate Covid recovery, as well as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a high level of uncertainty is again a factor in 2023, making an accurate forecast very challenging,” the forecast states.

GasBuddy projects total gas spending will be $470.8 billion in 2023, which is less than the $526.3 billion spent in 2022, but far more than $280.0 billion spent in 2020 when the pandemic started.

Gas prices were reportedly rising Jan. 2 across the country. AAA reported the average price of gas was $3.21 per gallon as of Jan. 2, 11 cents higher than a week ago.