By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Gas prices are going up in Kansas.
"We have actually seen a pretty decent jump in gas prices in the past week," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "Today's statewide average is $2.16 a gallon, which is up 12 cents from a week ago."
Gas price averages are at their highest in 10 months.
"That's despite the seasonal decrease in demand that we usually see this time of year," Steward said. "The main factors that are driving those prices up at the pump are tightening domestic supply and inventory and especially higher crude oil prices."
The choice by Saudi Arabia to cut its production by 1 million barrels a day next month is impacting those prices, but at least right now, both Kansas and Reno County are lower than some places.
"Kansas is 20 cents less than the national average, which is $2.36 a gallon," Steward said. "Kansas comes in at 9th cheapest in the country. Locally there in Reno County, in Hutchinson, the average is $2.11 a gallon, which is 5 cents cheaper than the statewide average."
Steward thinks there may be some looking to recover lost revenue from last year, when overall traffic volume was down considerably due to COVID-19.