MO gas prices pass national average with 20-cent jump

The Missouri gas price average jumped 20 cents during the past week to $3.76 per gallon yesterday, 9 cents higher than the national average.

Yesterday's U.S. average of $3.67 per gallon represented an 8.9-cent increase during the past week, according to a GasBuddy.com news release. GasBuddy surveys 3,940 filling stations in Missouri.

The Missouri average has increased 42.4 cents in the past month and 32.6 cents in the past year; the national average rose 16.6 cents month to-month, but decreased 3 cents year-to-year.

"The last seven days have delivered some shocks at the pump for motorists in the nation's Midwest," GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "I don't believe I've ever seen gasoline prices in the Midwest surpass California - areas of Nebraska, Minnesota, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota, and Kansas - have done that. Gas price records in these areas aren't being quietly replaced - they're being blown out of the water.

"I don't believe I've ever seen such crazy trends in gasoline prices occur all at one - prices spiking in one area, falling in another and holding steady in others. What we're seeing ... is certainly rare."

Outages and extended maintenance at refineries may have led to the mass increases, according to USA Today.

With an average gas price of $3.77 per gallon this morning, Missouri ranked 33rd on GasBuddy's list of the lowest averages in the nation.

The least expensive gas in Missouri was selling for $3.16 per gallon this morning at a station in Campbell, located in the southeast portion of the state. The highest price, $4.02 per gallon, could be found at a station in Branson and two in Sedalia, according to MissouriGasPrices.com.

The lowest price available for Springfieldians was $3.81 per gallon - at the 3660 E. Sunshine St. location of Sam's Club. The 745 W. El Camino Alto Drive Sam's Club had gas for $3.94 per gallon, while several stations were selling at $3.95 per gallon to $3.97 per gallon.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading at $96.02 per barrel as of 9:38 a.m., compared to $96.04 a week ago. Light sweet crude oil futures for June were trading at $95.95 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.