MO gas average falls 7 cents

The average price of gasoline in Missouri dropped 7.1 cents during the week of April 30-May 6 to $3.48 per gallon yesterday.

The average was 27.2 cents lower than a month ago and 35.8 cents lower than a year ago. Comparatively, the national average - which decreased 2.9 cents to $3.77 per gallon during the week - was 13.4 cents lower than a month ago and 15.9 cents lower than the same day in 2011, according to a GasBuddy.com news release.

The Missouri average held at $3.48 per gallon this morning, ranking it No. 3 on GasBuddy.com's list of lowest gas averages by state. At an average of $3.44 per gallon, Oklahoma held the top spot.

As of 9:05 a.m., the least expensive gas in Missouri, $3.25 per gallon, was available at three filling stations in Blue Springs. In Springfield, the Sam's Club locations at 745 W. El Camino Alto Drive and 3660 E. Sunshine St. had the lowest cost at $3.39 per gallon, according to MissouriGasPrices.com.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading at $97.60 per barrel as of 9:07 a.m., down from $104.20 a week ago. Light sweet crude oil futures for June were trading at $97.20 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, according to the CME Group.