As of Monday average retail gasoline prices in Kansas have fallen 0.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.14 per gallon yesterday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 1,329 gas outlets in Kansas.
This compares with the national average that has not moved in the last week to $2.29 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Kansas during the past week, prices yesterday were 101.6 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 28.2 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 22.1 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 104.6 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.
“Retail gasoline prices should be expected to continue a slow but steady descent consistent with what typically occurs when cheaper ‘winter blend’ gasoline becomes more available as we near the beginning of the fourth quarter,” said Gregg Laskoski, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst. “The Great Lakes region may be the only one where a decline is less likely given the jump in Chicago wholesale fuel prices late last week. The spike brought Chicago wholesale as high as Los Angeles and to a tie for the highest wholesale gasoline prices nationwide.”
According to AAA of Kansas, average price for regular unleaded gasoline has fallen now for 38 of the last 42 days going back to August 17 when the Kansas average was $2.58 per gallon. Today’s Kansas average for regular unleaded gasoline is $2.15, a 43 cent drop over this period of time, or nearly 17 percent lower than on August 17. The Kansas average underwent a few days of rising prices the past week but settles today lower than last Monday by a penny; yet 26 cents lower than a month ago and among the nation’s top ten largest monthly declines in gas prices, and fully $1.03 cents lower than a year ago, for a 32 percent drop from September 28, 2014. The Kansas average is 14 cents below the national average of $2.29 per gallon, and Kansas moved up a spot this week to 14th among the lowest state averages for regular unleaded gasoline. Here are the current trends in rankings for Kansas and our neighboring states, along with their current state averages:
• Missouri 10th (unchanged) ($2.07)
• Oklahoma 12th (was 11th) ($2.14)
• Kansas 14th (was 15th) ($2.15)
• Nebraska 33th (was 34th) ($2.37)
• Colorado 39th (was 41nd) ($2.48)
For the metro areas, Topeka is back in front as the metro area with the lowest average As of Wednesday the average for regular unleaded gas in Topeka is $2.06 per gallon vs. Wichita’s $2.08 per gallon. Topeka’s average ended up down a penny from last week, but is still nearly 22 cents lower today than it was a month ago. Topeka motorists are paying nearly $1.05 less for regular unleaded gasoline than they were a year ago, or 34 percent less, just like they were last week. Wichita motorists are paying almost three cents less than a week ago, now $2.08/pg. Today’s average in Wichita is 28 cents lower than a month ago and almost $1.03 lower than a year ago, or 33 percent less. Lawrence prices took the biggest week-over-week drop. Today’s average is $2.20 per gallon in Lawrence, over six cents lower than a week ago, 28 cents lower than a month ago and over 98 cents lower than a year ago, or 31 percent less.