Drivers, buckle your seat belts. Gas prices are rising again.

While unemployment and credit news have been grim during the recession, there s been one source of relief for consumers: low gas prices. But now, with the economy showing signs of improvement, fuel prices are climbing, and drivers are starting to budget their intake at the pump.

On Friday, the average national price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline hit $2.69 the highest since October 2008, according to AAA s Fuel Gauge Report. That s up 8.9% from a month ago and up 62% from a 52-week low of $1.66 in December 2008.

What's behind the spike? For one, there s crude prices, which are hovering near a 52-week high as investors buy up oil to hedge against a weakening U.S. dollar. Since gasoline is roughly 55% crude oil, its cost tracks crude s.

What s more, after reining in oil consumption during the recession, consumer demand is creeping back up. For the week ending Oct. 23, Americans consumed 9.08 million barrels of oil per day on average, up from 8.92 million barrels per day during the week ending Oct. 24, 2008, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

And while demand is rising, inventory is not. Low demand for petroleum from the industrial and consumer sectors resulted in less production. Currently, 81.8% of refineries in the U.S. are being utilized down from a nearly two-year peak of 91.4% in January 2008, according to the EIA.

Here are five ways to save on gas.

Pinpoint the lowest prices on your route

To find the cheapest gas prices, compare prices at stations near your home or along your commute. Price-comparison web sites like GasBuddy.com and BillShrink.com let you plug in your daily destinations to find the most affordable gas stations on those roads.

The price difference per gallon can be more than 30 cents. In Orlando, Fla., a gallon of regular unleaded gas sells for $2.63 at one Chevron but sells for $2.99 at another Chevron, according to GasBuddy.com.

Pay with cash

In addition to rising interest rates and fees, here s one more reason to not use your credit card: Paying for gas with cash often costs less.

Many gas stations are charging higher prices when you pay with a credit card in an attempt to pass along the merchant fees associated with such transactions. In these cases, consumers who pay with cash can save.
a subsidiary of BP), which has locations in California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Nevada, only accepts cash and charges between five and 10 cents per gallon less than competing stations. (ARCO also offers a debit MasterCard which consumers can use to purchase gas at no extra charge. Other debit cards are accepted at these stations, but there s a 45-cent fee.)

Cash discounts are popular in California, Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey and New York, says Patrick DeHaan, a senior petroleum analyst at GasBuddy.com. At a Sunoco (SUN) in Danbury, Conn., the cash price of a regular gallon of gas is $2.71 but you ll pay four cents more if you use plastic.

In addition to frozen food, toiletries and appliances, Costco, BJ s and Sam s Club sell discounted gas at some locations.

At a BJ s location in Woodbridge, Va., regular unleaded gas is selling for $2.49 a gallon. Local competitors there sell gas for $2.55 to $2.69 a gallon, according to GasBuddy.com.

Look for loyalty-based discounts at supermarkets

Next time you re shopping for groceries, find out if your supermarket offers gas discounts.

Some supermarket chains are adding gas stations at select locations that have discounted prices. In some cases, they even offer rewards.

For example, consumers who shop at select Kroger locations can earn discounts on fuel when they purchase gift cards or when they fill their prescriptions at a select Kroger pharmacy. Also, consumers who use the Kroger s 1-2-3 REWARDS MasterCard can save an additional five cents per gallon. (All discounts vary by location.)

Others include Safeway (SWY) and Stop & Shop. They're hoping you ll go to the store for gas and also purchase groceries, says Schwark Satyavolu, the president of BillShrink.com, a site that compares gas prices.

Switch to a fuel-efficient car

While most hybrid cars aren t cheap, many still qualify for federal tax credits that can offset the sticker shock.

A full tax credit of $2,200, for example, still exists on the 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and on the 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid. Meanwhile, the tax credit for qualifying Ford models is phasing out. From Oct. 1 through March 31, 2010, you'll get a $750 credit if you purchase a 2009 two-wheel drive Ford Escape Hybrid; a 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid gets you $850, as does a 2010 Mercury Milan hybrid.

And, consider the money you ll save on gas. The cost to drive 25 miles in a 2010 Ford Fusion front-wheel drive is $2.58, while the same distance would cost $1.65 with a 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid front-wheel drive (assuming a regular gasoline price of $2.58 per gallon).