NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas gas has gone up about a dime per gallon in the last week and Reno County is still a couple of cents below the state average, but the key word for the oil and gas markets going forward is volatility.
"We really spiked in terms of gas prices and crude oil prices back in the middle of March," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "Then, we declined there for a few weeks, but then this week we saw another spike back upward. The situation still occurring in Russia and Ukraine leaves a lot of question marks, a lot of volatility. There have been some concerns with supply regarding Libya in the past week that have impacted crude oil prices."
Kansas is still less expensive than the nation as a whole, with a state average that runs roughly a quarter a gallon less than the national average, give or take a couple of cents depending on the day.
"There's certainly been adjustments, in terms of the U.S. government, in terms of our releasing strategic oil reserves and allowing E15 ethanol fuels to be used in the summer," Steward said. "That can definitely have a small impact in terms of what we may see, but the bigger issues are the global crude oil prices."
It doesn't look like summer travelers will stop or even slow as a result of prices at the pump.
"We hear from travelers that they may just adapt other plans," Steward said. "Maybe stay at less expensive hotels, or go to fewer attractions during their vacations."
Gas is just about a dollar a gallon higher than it was last year at this time.