Mo. among least-expensive states for gas

 Missouri’s gas average dropped 8 cents during the past week, making it one the least-expensive states in the nation to purchase fuel.

The Show-Me State’s average was $2 per gallon as of this morning, ranking it fourth on GasBuddy.com’s list of the lowest averages in the United States. At $1.91 gallon, South Carolina topped the list, and California was at the bottom with an average of $2.88 per gallon.

The U.S. average decreased by 3.4 cents to $2.23 per gallon during the week ended yesterday, according to a news release.

“Even an uptick in demand for gasoline during the Fourth of July weekend couldn’t slow falling retail gasoline prices,” said Will Speer, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, in the release. “The average retail gasoline price for the United States has dropped for 26 consecutive days.”

With the latest change, Missouri’s average is 20.3 cents lower than a month ago and 57.2 cents below a year ago. The U.S. average has decreased 15.7 cents during the past month and 53.2 cents during the past year.

In Missouri, the least expensive gas price this morning was $1.74 per gallon at a filling station in Clinton. The highest price was $2.89 per gallon at a station in Ladue, according to MissouriGasPrices.com.

Springfieldians could buy gas for as low as $1.80 per gallon at both Sam’s Club stores. Prices elsewhere in the city ranged from $1.87 per gallon to $1.95 per gallon.

West Texas intermediate crude oil was trading at $45.23 per barrel as of 10:49 a.m., compared to a 52-week range of $32.22 to $57.94.