Gasoline prices creep closer to $3

 

The record plunge in gasoline stockpiles last week across the U.S. is threatening more and more motorists with $3 gasoline for the first time in six years and prices in Oklahoma are moving closer to the high price.

Reports show gasoline inventories fell by 13.6 million barrels after the winter storm that pounded Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas paralyzed the refining sector, leaving the national average at $2.74, up 30 cents from a month ago.

In Oklahoma, at least 9 of the state’s 77 counties have averages of $2.70 per gallon or more. The highest is $2.75 in Coal County where Coalgate is the county seat. Ellis County in the northwest has an average of $2.74.

Greer County in the southwest has a $2.73 a gallon average and Dewey County in the northwest has motorists paying an average of $2.72.

Oklahoma’s average this week is at $2.54, up a dime n the past week and 37 cents higher than a month ago. The average in Oklahoma City is $2.49, seven cents higher over the past week. In Tulsa, motorists pay an average of $2.52 per gallon, a dime more than one week earlier.

Drivers in Lawton pay an average $2.45, ten cents higher over the week. They also have seen the biggest jump in prices in the past month. Lawton’s average one month earlier was only $2.02.

Oklahoma’s $2.54 average compares to $2.57 in Kansas; $2.68 in Colorado; $2.68 in New Mexico; $2.47 in Texas; $2.51 in Arkansas; and $2.48 in Missouri.

Drivers in Oklahoma and elsewhere could face the higher prices by this summer because it could be another week or more before refineries closed by the storm are restarted. At least six of 16 refineries in Texas were forced to shut down operations.