RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Prices are falling rapidly at the gas pump, thanks to a precipitous drop in the price of a barrel of crude oil, yet North Carolina's gas tax will increase 1 cent at the pump as of January 1.

The rate will rise from 36.5 cents to 37.5 cents.

The notification from the Department of Revenue about the increase came as a surprise to some, considering that the state's gas tax rate is calculated, in part, on the average price of crude over the past six months.

The state explains, however, that the average of the past six months includes the very peak of crude prices -- April through September. It was last summer when crude began to decline. Based on that, analysts expect that when the gas tax is recalculated in six months, the lower prices will impact the calculation and the tax is likely to drop.

North Carolina's gas tax was capped at 37.5 cents per gallon by the General Assembly.