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Although the threat of increasing gas prices from Hurricane Ike is passing, reports of price gouging are still on the rise in Gainesville.

The number of gas gouging complaints has doubled to 18 in Alachua County from last week, according to a release from the Florida Attorney General's Office.

The number of complaints in the state has risen from 1,841 to 3,066, the report said.

Hurricane Ike, which was partly responsible for a gas shortage in the Southeast last week, continues to incite price gouging, said Sandi Copes, a spokeswoman for the office.

The reported gouging has been anywhere between 30 cents and $1.50 over average per-gallon gasoline prices, Copes said.

The average gas price Wednesday was $3.76 in Florida and $3.84 in Gainesville, according to AAA.

Most Florida counties have actually experienced a decrease in price-gouging complaints, Copes said.