Gasoline prices in Kansas have fallen 1.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.07 per gallon this past week, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 1,329 stations in Kansas. This compares with the national average that fell 5.7 cents per gallon last week to $2.36, according to GasBuddy. Here in Great Bend gas is as low as $2.02 per gallon.
Average gasoline prices on Dec. 17 in Kansas have ranged widely over the last five years:
$2.24 per gallon in 2017, $2.04 per gallon in 2016, $1.78 per gallon in 2015, $2.31 per gallon in 2014 and $2.94 per gallon in 2013.
Including the change locally during the past week, prices were 16.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago and 29.7 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average dropped 26.1 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 5.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.
Elsewhere in Kansas, gas in Wichita averaged $1.95 per gallon, down 1.5 cents from the previous week’s $1.96 per gallon, and gas in Topeka averaged $2.03 per gallon, down 5.6 cents from $2.08 per gallon.
“For the tenth straight week, gas prices have been in a state of decline, falling to the lowest level since prior to Hurricane Harvey in 2017 to the mid $2.30s with now 31 states with at least one gas station selling gasoline under $2 per gallon, saving motorists hundreds of millions of dollars versus prices just two months ago,” head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy Patrick DeHaan said. “Oil prices have been slow to react to a cut in oil production from OPEC, instead focusing on economic concerns and trade tensions with China. Thus far, it seems that it “may take a village” to help oil prices recover, help that would include robust demand from the U.S., which seems to be anything but the case. For now, prices will remain seasonally challenged, tied to the fact or expected fate of the economy moving forward.”
According to AAA, at $2.37, the national gas price average continues to drive toward the cheapest pump prices seen during the month of December since 2016, which is welcome news for the millions of Americans who began their holiday on Friday.
“AAA expects 102 million Americans to drive to their holiday destination this year, which is a 4 percent increase year-over-year,” AAA spokesperson Jeanette Casselano said. “No doubt cheaper gas prices are fueling their decision to hit the road.”
With gasoline production on the high side – 10 million barrels per day – amid low demand, motorists can expect gas prices to continue declining through year-end.
