PORTLAND, Ore. -- A recent jump in crude oil prices has caused prices at the pump to rise by about 30 to 40 cents in the past month, an AAA representative said.

Oregon's average gas price rose by 8 cents this week to $2.68 and the national average went up by 9 cents to $2.62, AAA representative Marie Dodds said.

"Prices haven't been this high since late October 2008," she said.

Crude oil prices were briefly above $70 on Friday when a U.S. Labor Department report announced that employers cut about 345,000 jobs in May, which was the fewest cuts since September 2008, Dodds said.

"Investors used the news of slowing job losses as a potential sign the recession is bottoming out," she said.

Dodds said that although crude oil prices seem to be headed upward, dramatically higher prices are unlikely.

"Demand remains low and near-record supplies are available," she said.

Oil prices will rise as the economy recovers, but AAA projects that with present trends, national gas prices will stay between $2.50 and $3 through the summer with Oregon's prices anywhere from 5 cents to 25 cents, Dodds said.