Mo. gas prices continue to fall

Following the 6-cent drop during Fourth of July weekend, Missouri gas prices continued their downward slope this week. 

Prices fell another 2.8 cents on average during the week ending July 14 to $3.41 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.com's survey of 3,940 filling stations in the state. 

Nationwide, the U.S. average dropped 3.7 cents, but remained 20 cents higher than Missouri's average at $3.61 per gallon, according to a news release. 

"The last two weeks have seen some large drops in oil prices and gasoline spot prices," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "Over the next week, the national average will fall back under $3.50 per gallon, something we haven't seen since April.

"There is also the possibility for further declines if we don't see a hurricane or geopolitical tensions ruin things."

Last week's price drop represents a 6.3-cent decrease over the same day a year ago and 2.6 cents lower than last July. The U.S. average decreased 4.3 cents, but stands unchanged from the same time last year. 

The Show-Me State fell one spot to No. 7 on GasBuddy's list of the lowest averages nationwide. At $3.32 a gallon, South Carolina claims the lowest price in the nation, while Hawaii remains most costly, selling at $4.34 a gallon. California has the highest price in the contiguous United States at $4.08 a gallon. 

Across the state, three stations in Columbia are pumping the cheapest gas at $3.19 a gallon. The St. Louis suburb of Ladue has the highest at $3.79 a gallon, according to MissouriGasPrices.com.

Springfieldians could purchase gas for as low as $3.21 per gallon at the city's two Sam's Club stores, 745 W. El Camino Alto Drive and 3660 E. Sunshine St. Prices elsewhere ranged from $3.29 per gallon to $3.37 per gallon.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading at $100.83 per barrel as of 9:55 a.m. Light sweet crude oil futures for August were trading at $100.29 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.