Missouri gas price dip follows US trend

Alongside a downward trend in national prices, Missouri’s gas average dropped 5.4 cents during the past week to $2.09 per gallon yesterday, according to GasBuddy.com.

The national average moved down 3.3 cents to $2.26 per gallon, according to a news release.

"For the 22nd straight day, the national average for a gallon of gasoline has dropped, the longest such streak since last summer,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, in the release. "Average prices now stand at their lowest thus far in 2017 and the lowest since before Christmas, thanks primarily to weak demand for gasoline and also bulging inventories of gasoline."

Missouri’s average yesterday was 7.2 cents lower than a month ago but still 58 cents higher than a year ago. The U.S. average decreased 6.7 cents during the past month but increased 46.2 cents during the past year.

The Show-Me State ranked ninth this morning on GasBuddy’s list of the lowest averages nationwide. Ohio was first with its $2.01 per gallon average, while Hawaii was last at $3.06 per gallon.

In Missouri, the lowest price of gas was available this morning at two stations in Chesterfield for $1.81 per gallon. A station in Ladue was selling gas for $2.89 per gallon, the most expensive price point statewide, according to MissouriGasPrices.com.

Springfieldians could purchase gas for as low as $1.94 per gallon at Sam’s Club, 745 W. El Camino Alto Drive. Prices elsewhere ranged from $1.99 to $2.05 per gallon.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading at $52.77 per barrel as of 10:59 a.m., compared with a 52-week range of $38.10 to $56.24.