LITTLE ROCK—Attorney General Dustin McDaniel is likely to subpoena some gasoline retailers for answers on exorbitant gas prices after receiving thousands of complaints of gouging at the pump in response to Hurricane Ike, his office said Monday.

Gabe Holmstrom, a spokesman for McDaniel, said the Attorney General’s Office received more than 2,000 calls complaining about high gas prices over the weekend. Holmstrom said the office also received more than 1,300 e-mails and text messages at an address set up specifically to track potential price gouging because of Hurricane Ike.

“It’s very likely that subpoenas will be issued” seeking more information on the gas prices, Holmstrom said.

Friday, Gov. Mike Beebe used the state’s price-gouging law when he declared a state of emergency in response to gas-supply disruptions from the hurricane that struck the Texas coast. State law prohibits businesses from raising their costs by more than 10 percent in an emergency.

Shortly before the governor made the declaration, McDaniel said his office was already receiving complaints of high gas prices. McDaniel asked consumers to text and e-mail photos of price gouging to his office.

Holmstrom said Monday the Attorney General’s Office was “swamped” with phone calls shortly after the announcement.

“It’s going to take us time to go through all of these and then present the information to the attorney general,” Holmstrom said.

The average price Monday for a gallon of gas in Arkansas was $3.90, up 32 cents from a month ago and above the national average of $3.84.

The AAA says that among the state’s metropolitan areas, Pine Bluff had the priciest gas, at $4.01 a gallon—setting a record for that city. Little Rock averaged $3.95 for a gallon of unleaded gas, while Fort Smith was at $3.85, Texarkana averaged $3.83 and Fayetteville-Springdale Rogers was at $3.82.

Arkansas’ statewide record for the highest price for a gallon of gas is $3.97, set in July.