Lower Mainland drivers are going to regret that decision not to stop at the gas station on the way home from work last night.

While the province was sleeping, gas prices leaped into the stratosphere -- with some stations in Vancouver now posting a price of 1.41 a litre -- a boost of at least seven cents in seven days.

The cost of a litre of gas is still under 1.20 in most B.C. communities except Metro Vancouver. but experts warn that could change soon because world oil prices are now at a nine-month high.

Anxiety over the nuclear program unveiled in Iran -- the globe's third most important oil-exporting nation -- is believed to be one of the reasons for the latest spike.