MO gas averages 8 cents lower than national prices

Missouri average retail gasoline prices rose 3.5 cents per gallon during the week of April 18-24, averaging $3.75 per gallon April 24. The state's gas prices remain below the national average, which was $3.83 a gallon for the same week.

State prices were 28.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and have increased $1.06 a gallon since the same day last year, according to a GasBuddy.com news release.

As of 8:52 a.m., the cheapest gas in Missouri was $3.47 a gallon at three stations in Jackson, near Cape Girardeau. The most expensive gas was $3.99 at three stations in St. Louis.

The least expensive Springfield gas was available for $3.53 a gallon at Sam's Club, 745 W. El Camino Alto St., according to MissouriGasPrices.com.

The national average increased 2.8 cents per gallon during the week to $3.83 a gallon, 28.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and 97.9 cents per gallon higher than the same time last year.

The U.S. price per barrel for crude oil was $114.96 as of April 15, compared to $81.64 per barrel a year before, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. 

Light sweet crude oil futures for June were trading at $112.18 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 9 a.m., according to the CME Group. May futures were trading at $108.06 a barrel the morning of April 18, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.