Despite the suggestion earlier this year that the nation was not facing serious inflation, if it seems like the price of fuel has been on the rise in recent months, that is because it has been. And national sources are acknowledging what drivers have been seeing for months now — that the nation is, indeed facing fuel inflation, which is undoubtedly going to translate into higher prices across the board.
According to the Associated Press, “a survey says the average price of regular gasoline in the United States has jumped 5.31 cents per gallon in the last two weeks.
“The Lundberg Survey of fuel prices released Sunday says the average national price of a gallon of regular is $3.18.”
“Billings, Mont., had the lowest average price among cities surveyed at $2.95 a gallon for regular. San Francisco was the highest among surveyed areas at $3.54,” the AP reported
Prices in Kansas are both below and above the national average. Here in Great Bend, they are hovering in the range of $3.13, which is about in the mid-range of state prices.
Low price in the state Monday, according to a statewide Web site that tracks gasoline prices, was $2.94 at Topeka, followed by $2.95 in Ogden, Junction City and Concordia; $2.98 in Wichita, Topeka, and Silver Lake; $2.99 in Lawrence, Salina, Derby and Wichita; $3.01, in Salina; $3.05, in Emporia, Salina and Hutchinson; $3.07, in Dodge City and Manhattan; and $3.09, in Hutchinson, Manhattan and Lawrence.
Locations with higher prices than Great Bend included: $3.14, Manhattan; $3.15, Garden City; $3.18, Salina; $3.19, Parsons, Iola, Carbondale, Pittsburg, Liberal, Independence and Cherryvale; $3.22 in Russell; and $3.29 in Hoisington.
Some communities are listed more than once in the prices, because there are a variety of gas prices available.
The Kansas average price on Monday was $3.09, compared to $3.07 a week ago and $2.55 a year ago.
The national average on Monday was $3.18. A year ago, the national average was $2.65.
The prices are reported on Kansas Gas Prices, which is operated by Gas Buddy Organization, that was developed as a way for the public to report changes in gas prices around the nation.
The Kansas prices are available at www.kansasgasprices.com