Mo. gas prices land 14 cents below national average

Though still lower than this time last year, Missouri's average retail gas prices rose 3.9 cents during the past week, bringing the Show-Me State within 14 cents of the national average.

Missouri's average was $3.39 per gallon yesterday, 11.5 cents lower than a year ago but 9.3 cents higher than a month ago. The U.S. average, which increased by 1.8 cents during the past week to $3.53 per gallon yesterday, fell 8.3 cents from the same day last year but increased 9.2 cents month-to-month, according to a GasBuddy.com news release.

"While gasoline prices have seen slight increases in the last week, it still may get worse," said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst, in the release. "Last week, the (U.S. Energy Information Administration) reported a large drop in gasoline inventories as refiners purged supplies of winter spec gasoline. Refineries also utilized a lower amount of their capacity as maintenance season continues.

"In the next few weeks as maintenance is finished, there could be localized price spikes. While gasoline prices are lower than I would have expected a few months ago, there is still some risk for higher prices in the days ahead."

Missouri ranked 17th this morning on GasBuddy's list of the lowest gas average in the nation. Montana held the No. 1 spot, with a $3.26 per gallon average, while Hawaii bottomed out the list at $4.23 per gallon.

In Missouri, the lowest price of gas this morning could be found for $3.15 per gallon at two filling stations in Dexter. The highest price of $3.69 per gallon was selling at a station in Grandview, according to GasBuddy MissouriGasPrices.com.

Springfieldians could purchase gas at the lowest price in the city, $3.20 per gallon, at the Sam's Club stores, 3660 E. Sunshine St. and 745 W. El Camino Alto Drive. Other prices ranged from $3.33 per gallon to $3.39 per gallon.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading at $101.67 per barrel as of 11:22 a.m. Light sweet crude oil futures for May were trading at $101.81 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.