International news in the continuing war on terror may have brought a temporary drop in the price of oil, but it was only temporary and there is no cause for celebration in regards to fuel prices, according to national experts.
Locally, over the weekend, Great Bend drivers saw fuel prices jump by another dime a gallon to $3.76 in most locations.
However, that is still considerably lower than the national average.
What ever guide is used, however, the conclusion is clear.
Gasoline prices have now risen more than a dollar since a year ago.
Prices around Kansas on Monday included: $3.54, McPherson; $3.63, Derby; $3.64, Wichita; $3.65, Hays, Garden City, Park City, Augusta and Wichita; $3.66, Lawrence; $3.67, Garnett; $3.68, Salina; $3.69, Lawrence and Emporia; $3.71, Hutchinson, Salina and Dodge City; $3.72, Salina, Manhattan, Liberal, Hutchinson and South Hutchinson; $3.73, Dodge City; $3,74, Salina, Manhattan and Junction City; $3.75, Lawrence, Pratt, Hays, Garden City and Emporia; $3.76, Manhattan; $3.77 Liberal; $3.78, Salina and Emporia; $3.79, Garnett, Pratt, Russell, Lindsborg, Eureka, Salina, Hays, Lawrence and Junction City; $3.81, Salina; $3.82, South Hutchinson; $3.83, Manhattan; $3.85, Lawrence, Hays, South Hutchinson, Liberal and Manhattan; $3.86, Junction City; $3.87, Lawrence, Sabetha and Dodge City; $3.88, Russell; $3.89, Garnett, Ellsworth, Iola, Pratt and Junction City; $3.94, Ellsworth and Lindsborg; $3.95, Chanute, Junction City, Manhattan, Independence, Parsons, Cherryvale and Wichita; $3.98, Eureka; $3.99, Ellsworth, McPherson and Chanute; and $4.05, Parsons and Cherryvale.
Prices have now, officially, increased by a dollar or more in the past year. The average price of unleaded gasoline in Kansas Monday was $3.80, compared to $3.70 a week ago; $3.50 a month ago and $2.80 a year ago.
The national average price on Monday was $3.95, compared to $2.91 at this time last year.
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.
Some communities are listed more than once in the prices, because there are a variety of gas prices available.
According to the Associated Press, the cost of fuel continues to increase.
Oil prices are rising again after falling below $111 a barrel on news that U.S. forces killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
Benchmark oil for June delivery rose 24 cents to $114.17 a barrel in Monday morning trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude gained 48 cents at $126.37 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.
Bin Laden was killed Sunday by U.S. special forces in Pakistan. Oil fell below $111 a barrel early Monday. By midmorning it was on the rise again. Analysts say traders are concerned that bin Laden’s death may lead to retaliation from his followers that could affect oil supplies.
Oil also got a boost as the dollar retreated from an early rally following news of bin Laden’s death. Oil is priced in dollars. A weaker dollar makes crude more attractive to buyers with foreign currency, and the price tends to rise.
Gas pump prices are still climbing. The national average for a gallon of regular rose by a penny on Monday to $3.95. That’s 32 cents more than a month ago and $1.07 higher than a year ago. Drivers in 13 states and the District of Columbia are paying over $4 a gallon.