By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas notes that gas prices have continued to stay pretty much where they have been in recent weeks.
"Here in Kansas and nationally, we're up about a cent from where we were a week ago," Steward said Wednesday. "The average in Kansas is $2.92 a gallon, compared to $3.19 at the national level. Reno County is at $2.93 a gallon, slightly higher than the state wide average."
Kansas is 10th cheapest in the nation this week.
"Hurricane Nicholas sort of complicated and slowed the recovery from Hurricane Ida," Steward said. "The seasonal dropoff in demand has helped mitigate price increases on the week."
The fundamentals may be there for price declines in the medium term.
"Supplies are strong right now and are definitely keeping up with demand," Steward said. "We'll just have to take a look once those refineries here domestically are all back up online. As always, we'll be looking at geopolitical issues in other parts of the world that will impact oil prices."
Traditionally, prices also drop during the period when refineries switch from summer to winter blend gasoline.