MO gas average falls 9.4 cents

The average retail price of gasoline in Missouri eased during the past week, falling 9.4 cents to $3.65 per gallon yesterday.

Yesterday's average was still 4.3 cents higher than a month ago and 48 cents higher than the same day in 2011. The U.S. average, which dropped 4.3 cents during the past week to $3.81 per gallon, increased 8.8 cents during the past month and 29 cents during the past year, according to a GasBuddy.com news release.

"The national average has begun to drop nicely during the last week, and while it certainly doesn't feel like much, it is noteworthy," GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan said in the release.

Missouri's average, which was flat this morning, moved the state up to No. 9 on GasBuddy.com's list of the lowest gas averages by state. Missouri held the 15th spot a week ago. This morning, South Carolina was at the top of the list, with an average of $3.53 per gallon, while Hawaii had the highest average at $4.38 per gallon.

As of 11:30 a.m., the least expensive gas in Missouri could be found at a filling station in Dexter for $3.40 per gallon. The highest price of gas, $3.89 per gallon, was selling at a station in St. Robert, according to MissouriGasPrices.com.

In Springfield, the lowest price for gas was $3.61 per gallon at Sam's Club, 745 W. El Camino Alto Drive. The Sam's Club at 3660 E. Sunshine St. was selling gas for $3.63 per gallon, Route 66 Food Shop, 700 N. Benton Ave., offered gas for $3.64 per gallon and myriad stations priced gas at $3.65 per gallon.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading at $91.32 per barrel as of 11:33 a.m., compared to a 52-week range of $75.92 to $109.95. Light sweet crude oil futures for November were trading at $91.32 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

"Oil prices were all over the map last week, closing in on $100 per barrel one day and dropping to $92 per barrel later in the week. I've probably had more double-takes watching oil prices in the last week than I've had all summer," DeHaan added in the release.