NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas is continuing to see prices go in a downward direction for drivers.
"The downward trend at the pumps has continued," Steward said Thursday. "We're down to $3.39 a gallon on average in Kansas. That's down eight cents in the past week. I think we were down eight cents the previous week. We're looking at a reduction of about 35 cents a gallon on average in Kansas over the last month."
Prices are a little inconsistent across central Kansas.
Reno: $3.39
McPherson: $3.23
Harvey: $3.37
Sedgwick: $3.41
Kingman: $3.54
Pratt: $3.49
Stafford: $3.50
Rice: $3.55
"It's a seasonal trend that we see in most years," Steward said. "We start to see gas prices fall in the fall and winter as temperatures drop. It's interesting that in the last few weeks, we haven't really seen a reduction in gas demand, but we have seen oil prices being fairly stable."
More than half of the price of a gallon of gas at the pump has its foundation from the price of the crude oil from which it is refined.
"The U.S. has lifted some oil sanctions on Venezuela, which could lead to a 200,000 barrel per day increase in U.S. exports from that country," Steward said. "That would certainly help our supply."
Steward said if this trend continues, we could see gas as low as $3 a gallon, depending on how winter weather slows demand.
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