HUTCHINSON, Kan. – After the price for gas jumped to $2.45 per gallon for regular unleaded last week, it has dropped some since now averaging $2.39 per gallon.
That’s higher then the state average where the price is $2.34 per gallon and Kansas overall is above the national where the price is $2.31 per gallon
Kansas now ranks 26th among the state averages and is still behind Missouri where the average price is $2.23 and matches Oklahoma at $2.34 per gallon.
The average price in Kansas is still lower then the other two surrounding states. The average price in Colorado is $2.37 followed by Nebraska at $2.52.
These numbers coming from Triple A Kansas.
The refinery maintenance season is reportedly nearing its peak. “Average prices have remained under pressure due to a growing list of both planned and unplanned maintenance for refineries located in the region,” said Jim Hanni, spokesman for Triple A Kansas.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Midwest refinery utilization rate fell below 80 percent for the first time since 2013, which means production was running well below capacity.