Mo. gas average falls off top 10

Missouri’s gas average rose 7 cents during the past week, pushing the state off the top 10 of GasBuddy.com’s list of the lowest gas averages in the nation.

At $2.14 per gallon this morning, the Show-Me State ranked No. 15 on the list, compared to its ninth place showing a week ago. With its $1.93 per gallon average, Utah topped the list this morning, while Hawaii was last with $3.03 per gallon.

With the weekly increase, Missouri’s gas average is 35.8 cents higher than a month ago but $1.05 cents lower than a year ago. The national average, which moved up 4.7 cents during the past week to $2.29 per gallon, has risen 26.6 cents during the past month but fallen $1.12 during the past year, according to a GasBuddy news release.

“The seasonal lift in gasoline prices remains well underway across the country, with the West Coast seeing the most excruciating rate of price increases," said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst, in the release. “Not only is the national average up some 27 cents per gallon versus last month, but some areas - like California - are seeing extra hits at the pump as a refinery explosion and seasonal gasoline requirements [are] leading to a home run - and not for the home team.”

This morning, the lowest price for gasoline in Missouri was $1.93 per gallon, available at a filling station in Jane in the southwest corner of the state. A station in O’Fallon had the highest price, at $2.45 per gallon, according to MissouriGasPrices.com.

Springfieldians could find gas at a low price of $2.02 per gallon at both Sam’s Club stores, while prices elsewhere ranged from $2.04 to $2.07 per gallon.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading at $49.26 per barrel as of 9:30 a.m., compared to $53.13 a week ago. Light sweet crude oil futures for April were trading at $49.27.