Gas Prices on the Rise

By Robin Gregg

The average statewide gas price in Missouri was $3.49 Friday, a level not reached since July 2014 when fuel cost $3.40 a gallon.

Paris’s Travis Jenny Barr stated, “My ‘thought’ is that we wouldn’t be subject to the world’s problems with fuel if we simply used our own oil reserves. (Or at least threatened to do so) It’s going to get ridiculous. Farmers use fuel for almost everything, so just wait to see how rural farm families get strangled by this craziness! Input costs will be absurd.”

On Monday, March 7, 2022, regular unleaded average in Monroe County was $3.54 and $3.69 in Ralls County. FastLane (Abel’s Shell) in Paris was $3.50. Majority of the stations in Monroe City was at $3.70. Love’s station near New London was $3.80. Casey’s in Perry was $3.66. Missouri statewide, average was at $3.62/gallon. Average a year ago was $2.50.

Still, Missouri drivers are paying the fifth lowest gas price average in the country, largely due to low fuel taxes in the state. Kansas City area drivers paid $3.64 per gallon Friday, the highest price for gas in the state, and drivers in southwest Missouri were paying the lowest, AAA reported.

Much of the sharp increase can be attributed to the uncertainty of getting Russia's crude oil supplies to the global market, according to AAA.

"Oil prices have skyrocketed to 11-year highs due to the volatility in global crude markets caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine," AAA spokesperson Nick Chabarria said in a news release.

Crude oil prices are now more than $100 per barrel, and the demand is likely to drive the price of gas even higher, likely hitting $4 per gallon, he said.

Nine states in the country now have average gas prices over $4 per gallon, according to AAA. California drivers pay an average of $5.07, the highest in the nation.

California is also the first state to have an average price of more than $5 a gallon. Arkansas has the lowest average gas price at $3.44.

Tips for fuel-saving can be found at https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=MO