The statewide gas price average in Missouri is $2.81 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel, according to the AAA Missouri Weekend Gas Watch. That price is four cents more compared to this day last week and is 93 cents more per gallon compared to this day last year. Of the major metropolitan areas surveyed in Missouri, drivers in Columbia are paying the most on average at $2.89 while drivers in Joplin are paying the least at $2.74 per gallon. The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.12, which is five cents more compared to this day last week and 94 cents more than the price per gallon at this same time last year, according to AAA Gas Prices.
According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration for the week ending June 25, the U.S. gasoline demand decreased from the week prior by about three percent. Higher demand numbers are likely, however, as we head into the holiday weekend. Weekly regional fuel supply numbers increased slightly, and Midwest refinery utilization registered 98.2%, up from 96.6% during the week prior. Global market optimism for oil and gas demand has increased pump prices to the highest they’ve been in Missouri for the Independence Day holiday in seven years.
“As hundreds of thousands of Missourians are planning to hit the road in celebration of Independence Day, they are going to fill up with the most expensive July 4th average price for a gallon of regular unleaded since 2014,” said AAA spokesperson Nick Chabarria. “The good news for drivers in Missouri continue to pay some of the cheapest gas prices in the U.S., ranking 4th lowest in country according to gasprices.aaa.com.”
A total of 791,516 Missourians are expected to travel during the Independence Day holiday weekend (July 1–5), according to travel forecast data from AAA. A closer look at the travel forecast shows approximately 740,000 Missourians will drive to their Independence Day destinations. That is a 24% jump from last year and a 1% decrease from 2019.
