Missouri gas prices fall 5 cents

The Show-Me State’s average gas price decreased 5.4 cents during the past week to $2.14 per gallon yesterday, according to GasBuddy.com’s survey of 3,940 Missouri filling stations.

Comparatively, the U.S. average dipped 3.7 cents to $2.34 per gallon. Missouri’s average yesterday was 7.2 cents lower than a month ago but 15.3 cents higher than a year ago. The nationwide average has dropped 5.6 cents during the past month but risen 12.5 cents during the past year, according to a news release.

"Gasoline prices in much of the country are eroding at a time of year when such a downward fall is anything but par for the course,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, in the release. "Prices now lay on the fringe of falling under the same point as last year as this year's usual spring rally has been the weakest in recent memory.

“Factors playing a role: weak demand and strong production, which continue to weigh on OPEC's output cut last November designed to cause prices to rise.”

Missouri’s $2.14 per gallon average this morning ranked the state eighth on GasBuddy’s list of the lowest prices in the country. At $2.03 per gallon, Oklahoma was No. 1, while California was at the bottom with a $2.97 per gallon average.

The lowest cost for gas in Missouri this morning was $1.85 per gallon at a station in Herculaneum, located in the eastern region of the state. A station in Ladue was selling gas at $2.89 per gallon, the most-expensive price statewide, according to MissouriGasPrices.com.

In Springfield, the lowest price was $1.91 per gallon at three stations: Conoco, 3165 N. Glenstone Ave., Shell, 3080 N. Kentwood Ave., and Sam’s Club, 3660 E. Sunshine St.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading at $46.31 per barrel as of 9 a.m., compared with a 52-week range of $43.76 to $57.95.