State gas price average rises to $3.78/gallon

The price of gasoline in Missouri averaged $3.78 per gallon yesterday after a 5.2-cent uptick the week of March 19-25. The state average was 8 cents lower than the national average, which increased 4.5 cents during the week to $3.86 per gallon yesterday.

Missouri prices yesterday were 29.8 cents higher than a month ago and 30.4 cents higher than a year ago. The U.S. average increased 21.9 cents during the last month and 29.5 cents during the last year, according to a GasBuddy.com news release.

"The national average has risen 21 consecutive days, according to our data -  a troubling sign. Typically we expect such increases to occur more so in April," said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy.com senior petroleum analyst, in the release. "If there's any ounce of good news for motorists, it's that such high prices so quickly may mean prices will peak in April rather than May."

With prices of about $3.80 per gallon, Missouri ranked No. 22 this morning on GasBuddy.com's list of lowest gas averages by state. Wyoming held the top spot, with an average of $3.48 per gallon.
http://gasbuddy.com/GB_Price_List.aspx?cntry=USA

As of 9:13 a.m., the least expensive gas in the state, $3.51 per gallon, was available at three stations in Camdenton, near Lake of the Ozarks.

For Springfieldians, the lowest price, $3.57 per gallon, could be found at three stations:

• Conoco, 700 N. Benton Ave.;
• Murphy USA, 3516 W. Sunshine St.; and
• Phillips 66, 3109 W. Sunshine St.

Chicago-based Gas Buddy Organization Inc. operates a system of more than 250 price-tracking Web sites under GasBuddy.com.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading at $107.09 per barrel as of 9:49 a.m., down from $107.48 a week ago. Light sweet crude oil futures for May were trading at $106.92 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, according to the CME Group.
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