By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Gas prices this week locally are exactly where they were last week.
"Today, we're looking at $2.91 a gallon as the Kansas statewide average," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "That's exactly the same as where we were a week ago. We really haven't seen much, if any, fluctuation in Kansas this week. Reno County is currently 2.92 a gallon, one cent higher than the statewide average."
Kansas gas is 9th cheapest in the U.S., but it's still not as good as last year.
"A month ago, we were at $2.94, that's three cents less than where we were a week ago," Steward said. "A year ago at this time we were at $1.98 in Kansas."
Fundamentals could take prices down in the coming weeks, as well.
"We're getting to that point where we can switch back away from the summer blends of gasoline," Steward said. "Usually, that happens in the fall. Also, of course, this time of year we start seeing a reduction in demand for gasoline as summer vacations are over and there's just fewer people on the roads."
The hurricanes in the Gulf in recent weeks have put upward pressure on the national prices in the short term.