By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Gas prices this spring have been the lowest we've seen in years at times, but as we get closer to summer, prices are going back up.
"Nationally, we're at an average of $1.96," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "Here in Kansas, we're at $1.68, which is up four cents in the past week and about 19 or 20 cents in the past month."
The increased demand of returning to work along with the beginning of the traditional summer travel season have boosted prices, but they're still lower than last year.
"We still don't see that this summer's average is going to be as expensive as last year's season," Steward said. "If we look back a year ago from now, in Kansas, we were at $2.59 a gallon, about 90 cents more than we are now. We don't see it getting back to that level."
The Reno County average is the same as the state, at $1.68 a gallon. Hutchinson is ranging from $1.66 to $1.69.
"There was a push back in the deadline for removing the winter blend gas from the system, just because of COVID-19 and the glut of fuel in the system," Steward said. "There was an allowance to push that to later this year."
That allowance is due to expire at the end of the month and the summer blend gas that replaces it is more expensive to make, so it is likely prices will continue to climb in the short term.