The closed Shell gas station on the South Belt Highway reflects last month's gas prices, compared to the price Wednesday at the Finish Line.
Drivers headed to the pump aren't happy about what they're seeing.
"I just knew this would happen once it got warmer," said Derek Minter.
Gasoline prices jumped this week to more than $2 a gallon at gas stations in St. Joseph, with the lowest prices per gallon at $2.06. The national average on Wednesday was $2.26 and Missouri's average was $2.15, according to AAA.
"We (in the Midwest) typically enjoy the lowest prices in the nation," said Ron Leone with the Missouri Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association.
The unofficial bump in gas prices begins around Memorial Day weekend. Prices increased about 30 cents throughout the entire month of May in 2008, according to AAA.
"We're sailing in unchartered waters," Mr. Leone said.
Mr. Leone said that as demand increases, prices go up.
"Nobody is quite certain on what the demand will be (this summer)," he said.
Mr. Minter was among many customers filling up their tanks, leery of an overnight price jump. Despite slightly higher prices, gas stations were busy on Wednesday.
"I hate filling up just because I don't want to wish I had the next day," said Gerri Williams.
Ms. Williams and Mr. Minter both drive trucks and spend about $50 for a fill-up. Mr. Minter also filled his two mowers.
"With more people being out and about you'd think gas would stay affordable," he said. "I just think it's shady."
While gas may be on a slow rise, drivers should be thankful they aren't seeing the high prices of last year. The national average for gas a year ago this month was $3.76.
Mr. Leone said that crude is going up because investors were thinking the recession had reached rock bottom.
Crude oil traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange closed Tuesday at $59.07 per barrel, its highest point in six months.
Jennifer Hall can be reached at jennhall@npgco.com.
Share Your Thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. We do not review every post or respond to every removal suggestion. Comments that threaten someone or degrade them on the basis of gender, race, class, national origin, religion or disability will be removed. Comments containing abusive, vulgar or sexually-oriented language will be removed. Comments that spread rumors or lies will be removed. Please discuss only what has been factually proven. Comments posted in all caps will be removed. Stay on topic! Brief quotes are okay as long as the source is given. Blatant cutting and pasting is not acceptable. Comments must be kept under 250 words or less. Stjoenews.net moderators also reserve the right to remove comments for any reason they deem worthy. Click here for our full user agreement.
min808 says...
Gas prices rising... (no suprise to me)
May 14, 2009 at 7:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhoisJohnGalt says...
Demand and therefore price goes up "with more people being out and about". Not a hard concept to follow.
May 14, 2009 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biggieroth says...
galt...exactly, sometimes a hard concept for people to understand.
May 14, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
apmastrangelo says...
A holiday tradition for the oil companies!
May 14, 2009 at 10:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhoisJohnGalt says...
A function of supply and demand, apmastrangelo. ;)
May 14, 2009 at 12:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
motherattitude says...
Of Course. Holiday coming up. Happens every year about this time
May 14, 2009 at 12:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigbob says...
This is too localized to be anything but local gas stations gouging. Filled up today for $2.18 before making a trip to Leavenworth KS. Should have waited, even with their higher taxes in KS, gas was $2.11 and in the border area of MO, $2.02. Pretty clear case of price fixing to allow price gouging in St. Joe.
May 14, 2009 at 4:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OldGrumpy says...
Hmmmm... lets see... Bush has been out of office how many months now? Ok, so who are we gonna blame for the upward spike in gas prices NOW??????
May 14, 2009 at 6:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
donaldo says...
gougeing come,s to mind? bush is still collecting money from oil company,s , he was kicked out of the oil bussines years ago and to stay out he is payed a stipents. his daddy,s freind,s seen to that especially after helping them while he was pres. in washinton. get used to it or buy a bycicle. they cant goug you there.i swore i would when it hit $1.50 cent,s a gallon. thats how old i am.
May 14, 2009 at 9:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kcroyl85 says...
Yeah it's a joke 2 weeks ago they were making a profit at 1.79 a gallon so with the demand up they would still be making huge profits at that price but now the holiday and summer is here and up it goes up with the oil companies cliaming record profits and the economy the way it is you'd think they cut us a break this summer until I see it drop forty cents a week before july 4 I'll never believe it's not greed.
May 14, 2009 at 9:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhoisJohnGalt says...
KCroy, ExxonMobile 1qtr 09 profits were down 58%. If you are going to make stuff up to bolster your argument, I suggest you use something obscure that is not so easily checked.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/bus...
May 15, 2009 at 6:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kcroyl85 says...
Your right WhoisHarryCrumb I must of been thinking of 2008 profits and what about the other oil companies I'm no expert but I'm sure there is more than exxon mobile?
May 18, 2009 at 10:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hookiebob says...
I for one am just thrilled and overjoyed that I am not paying that $3.76 a gallon. I should just be darn grateful, right? Does anyone understand the concept of price fixing? Correct me if I am wrong, but at one time was that not a felony? Is there no one in government who realizes that oil has a monopoly on domestic energy; and oil prices, in turn dictate commodity prices because they are dependent on that oil for transport and for manufacturing. And what are they doing about this unrestricted outright robbery of the citizens of this country? Oh well, it's just what happens around Memorial Day. It's just to be expected, huh? And what about their crony media pals who predict the coming prices, and lo and behold, those prices end up exactly as they 'predicted.' What, are the media that savvy about the economy of energy? I don't think so. Do yourself a favor and don't buy any of that propaganda. They are part and parcel of the same larceny.
May 19, 2009 at 3:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wr49tm says...
it's a pity that american consumers are feeling the pinch at the pump again. prices from january to present have risen 22% per barrel; however, because of speculators, consumers have paid a whopping 42% increase FOR NO REASON. OPEC has repeatedly stated that they believe $70 per barrel is a reasonable price; we're not even there yet.
May 19, 2009 at 3:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
familyguy says...
Michael, you sounded angry. You ok now? :)
May 19, 2009 at 4:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )