By RYAN SKAITH
Missouri gasoline prices have plateaued following a significant winter storm, with the statewide average for regular unleaded fuel holding steady at $2.49 per gallon.
According to the latest data from AAA, this price reflects a flat trend from the previous week, though it remains a welcome 37 cents lower than the average seen this time last year.
In St. Joseph, local motorists are finding even better relief at the pump, where the average price has dropped to $2.37 per gallon. This is a notable decrease from the $2.71 average residents were paying a year ago, keeping St. Joseph among the most affordable areas in the state for fuel.
By contrast, major metropolitan areas are seeing slightly higher costs. In Kansas City, prices are averaging roughly $2.44, while St. Louis motorists are paying the state’s highest rates at $2.63 per gallon.
Industry experts attribute the recent pause in falling prices to the aftermath of “Winter Storm Fern,” which hampered refinery operations and caused a slight uptick in crude oil prices. Despite these disruptions, Missouri continues to boast some of the lowest fuel costs in the country, well below the current national average of $2.87.