MO gas average among lowest nationwide

The average retail gasoline price in Missouri dropped 1.4 cents during the past week to $3.58 per gallon yesterday, 22 cents less than the national average.

The U.S. average increased slightly to $3.80 yesterday, a price that was 1.3 cents lower than a month ago and 37 cents higher than a year ago. Missouri's average yesterday was 13 cents lower than a month ago and 43.4 cents higher than the same day in 2011, according to a GasBuddy.com news release.

GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan attributed the 0.6-cent increase in the nationwide average to a spike in prices in California.

"Nationally, prices remain much higher than last year, especially in California, where the average now stands 88 cents per gallon higher than a year ago," DeHaan said in the release. "The good news for Californians is to expect relief this week. Around the rest of the nation, I expect a mixed bag, with prices not moving significantly in either direction from what I can see at this time."

The average gas price was $3.58 per gallon this morning in Missouri, ranking the state No. 10 on GasBuddy.com's list of the lowest gas averages by state. At $3.46 per gallon, South Carolina was at the top of the list, and California was at the bottom, with an average of $4.66 per gallon.

The least expensive gas in Missouri was available this morning at two filling stations in Harrisonville and Caruthersville. The most expensive gas, $3.79 per gallon, was selling at four stations in Branson and one station in St. Robert, according to MissouriGasPrices.com.

In Springfield, the least expensive gas price was $3.55 per gallon, available at Sam's Club locations on West El Camino Alto Drive and East Sunshine Street.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading at $89.22 per barrel as of 9:21 a.m., compared to a 52-week range of $77.56 to $109.95. Light sweet crude oil futures for November were trading at $89.44 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.[[In-content Ad]]