MO gas rises 6.5 cents; analyst predicts increases

Missouri gas prices rose 6.5 cents during the past week, averaging $2.66 a gallon on Sunday.

State prices stand at 0.4 cents per gallon more than a month ago and 18.4 cents per gallon higher than the same time last year, according to a MissouriGasPrices.com news release.

As of 11:00 a.m. this morning, Flying J in Peculiar tied for the lowest regular gas prices in the state at $2.55 a gallon, along with Casey's and Nick's Convenience of Poplar Bluff and Phillips 66 in Carthage. The lowest Springfield prices could be found at Murphy USA, 3516 W. Sunshine St., and Phillips 66, 3109 W. Sunshine, at $2.59 a gallon. The highest regular gas prices in the state could be found at Phillips 66 in Sunset Hills at $2.99 a gallon, according to the site.

The national average increased 5.4 cents per gallon to $2.85 a gallon. It increased 6.1 cents in the last month and is 20 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com - parent site of MissouriGasPrices.com, indicated in the release that prices reflected a drop in U.S. supplies weighed against a rising demand, causing oil prices to surpass $87 per barrel.

"With oil prices breaking out of their well established $75 to $85 a barrel range, I'm quite concerned we could see prices trade in a higher range, perhaps $85 to $95 a barrel for several months, signaling higher gasoline prices in the future," he said in the release.[[In-content Ad]]