Gasoline prices have jumped back up in some sites in Oklahoma and state’s price average is up to $1.41 a gallon, according to the latest Fuel Gauge Report from AAA Oklahoma. It had been down to $1.34 as of last weekend.
“Normally, given the time of the year, we would expect to see pump prices rise,” said Chuck Mai, a spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “Demand is building and refineries are starting to re-tool, putting a crimp in supply. But nothing about gas prices over the last 18 months has been typical. We’ll just have to wait and see if these last three days turn into a trend.”
The cheapest gasoline in the state is in Bartlesville where the average is $1.31 a gallon. But other cities are close with cheap prices too, including $1.32 in Muskogee, $1.33 in Enid and $1.34 in Tulsa.
The highest average is $1.46 in Stillwater and $1.45 in Idabel and Ponca City. The average in McAlester is $1.44 a gallon. The biggest jump in prices occurred in Shawnee where the average from last week rose a dime a gallon to reach $1.37. Oklahoma City’s average is $1.42, up 9 cents in the past week.
Despite the increase in prices in the state, Oklahoma still has the lowest gasoline prices in the nation. Missouri’s price average is four-tenths of a cent higher while Kansas is at $1.44 and Arkansas is at $1.49 a gallon.
AAA indicated that the national average price of gasoline increased this week for the first time in 20 days but the average prices are still at levels not seen since January 2009. The national average is $1.70. Refinery production is starting to drop as many refineries get ready for seasonable maintenance in advance of the summer driving season. In addition, some refineries have reportedly cut production because of abundant supplies and low prices.
Industry analysts expect this year’s spring maintenance season to peak in April and pump prices are likely to rise in the coming months because of fluctuations in supply and demand associated with the process. However, AAA still expects Memorial Day gasoline prices to be low because gasoline inventories are higher than normal and the price of crude oil remains low.
