By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The national average for a gallon of gasoline is now at $1.97 a gallon as of Thursday morning.
"We're really seeing some prices that we haven't seen in a long time," said Shawn Steward of AAA Kansas. "This is due to COVID-19's chilling effect on the economy, as well as the ongoing crude oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. Crude oil prices are plummeting. They're down to about $20 a barrel. That's a price that we haven't seen since 2002."
Kansas is at $1.73 a gallon as of Thursday morning.
"AAA is projecting that we could see prices falling another quarter, 25 cents a gallon, this month," Steward said. "That would put us around $1.50 here in the state. Whether that's the absolute bottom remains to be seen."
Reno County is still above the state average as of Wednesday.
"In Reno County, we're looking at $1.81 a gallon average," Steward said. "In the Hutchinson area, it's about $1.79 to $1.81 range, so a little higher than the statewide average, but still pretty affordable, compared to where we've been over the last few years."
It's difficult to predict demand numbers going forward, as it would normally rise with warmer weather, but it remains to be seen how much of an effect restricted travel has on spring and summer vacations.