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TOPEKA, Kan. – June 11, 2018 – Although average gas prices nationally have fallen for the past two weeks, Kansas has bucked the trend as one of only eight states experiencing an increase at the gas pumps. The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline rose two cents this week in the Sunflower State to $2.73/gallon.
“After some moderation in prices right around Memorial Day, we’ve experienced a slight jump in gas prices over the last couple of weeks in Kansas,” said Jennifer Haugh, AAA Kansas spokeswoman. “Steady demand and a relatively low gasoline inventory level in our region are the likely reasons we’ve seen some increase in retail prices. We are still pretty fortunate here in the Sunflower State to have the nation’s 10th cheapest average gas prices, 19 cents less than the national average.”
Fortunately, not everyone in Kansas saw gas prices rise this week. Of the 10 Kansas cities regularly highlighted by AAA Kansas (see chart below), only three cities (Kansas City, Kan. and Lawrence +9 cents and Wichita +8) saw gas price increases. Emporia (-4) joined Topeka (-2) and Hays (-1) with lower prices, while pump prices in four cities stayed the same.
According to AAA Kansas, this week’s Kansas gas price extremes are:
HIGH: Kensington (Smith County) – $3.01
LOW: Galena (Cherokee County) – $2.55
National Perspective
At $2.92, the national gas price average has dropped four cents since the beginning of June. Today’s average is three cents less than a week ago, six cents more than a month ago and 58 cents more expensive than a year ago. On the week, only eight states saw prices increase while all others dropped by as much as 13 cents or remained stable.
“Gas prices continue to dip across the country, but remain nearly 50-cents more expensive than last summer in every state,” said AAA Kansas’ Haugh. “The higher prices seem to be influencing driving habits. While consumer gasoline demand remains strong, it is slowing and not growing.”
Dropping by 713,000 b/d, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that demand registers – for the first time since mid-January – just under 9 million b/d. This is surprising, as levels have consistently measured above the 9 million mark every week in June since 2015.
Today’s national gas price extremes:
High: California – $3.72
Low: South Carolina – $2.58
Great Lakes and Central States Report
The majority of states in the Great Lakes and Central region are seeing cheaper gas prices on the week. Indiana (-13 cents) saw the only double-digit drop in the country, which brings the state’s gas price average ($2.87) well under the $3 mark it was at last Monday. Other notable week-over-week pump price decreases in the region: Illinois (-7 cents), Wisconsin (-4 cents) and Iowa (-4 cents). However, not every state is seeing this trend. Four states saw prices jump including Kansas (+2 cents), Ohio (+2 cents), Michigan (+2 cents) and South Dakota (+1 cent). With the weekly increase, Michigan’s gas price average is at the $3 mark, making the state’s average the second most expensive in the region behind Illinois ($3.02).
Inventory levels continue to hold slightly above the 52 million bbl mark. According to the latest data released by the EIA, this is the lowest inventory levels of the year for the region and about 2.6 million bbl below levels at this time last year.
Gas Price Trends in Select Kansas Cities
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Today
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Last Week
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Last Month
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Last
Year
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Change Over Last Year
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National
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$2.92
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$2.95
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$2.86
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$2.34
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25%
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Kansas
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$2.73
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$2.71
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$2.63
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$2.15
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27%
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Emporia
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$2.69
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$2.73
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$2.59
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$2.16
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25%
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Garden City
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$2.71
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$2.71
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$2.63
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$2.10
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29%
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Hays
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$2.68
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$2.69
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$2.62
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$2.19
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22%
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KCK
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$2.82
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$2.73
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$2.64
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$2.19
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29%
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Lawrence
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$2.85
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$2.76
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$2.64
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$2.21
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29%
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Manhattan
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$2.71
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$2.71
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$2.62
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$2.15
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26%
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Pittsburg
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$2.80
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$2.80
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$2.70
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$2.10
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33%
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Salina
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$2.65
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$2.65
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$2.62
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$2.19
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21%
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Topeka
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$2.67
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$2.69
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$2.60
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$2.16
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24%
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Wichita
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$2.74
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$2.66
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$2.62
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$2.10
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30%
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Bordering states and rank in lowest gas prices around the country
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State
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Current Avg.
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Rank Today
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Oklahoma
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$2.62
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4
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Missouri
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$2.68
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8
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Kansas
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$2.73
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10
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Colorado
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$2.88
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23
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Nebraska
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$2.83
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20
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