NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. —Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas notes that those filling up are seeing numbers go down in recent days.
"We have seen some relief, as gas prices have started to drift downward over the past week, which is always a good thing for drivers, when you go to fill up your tank," Steward said. "Here in Kansas, we're at $3.16 a gallon, on average, and that's down four cents from where we were a week ago."
Area county averages as of Thursday are as follows:
Reno $3.11
McPherson $3.11
Harvey $3.12
Sedgwick $3.03
Kingman $3.16
Pratt $3.29
Stafford $3.22
Rice $3.26
Kansas has the 10th cheapest gas in the United States this week and news last week from those that get the oil out of the ground appears to be having an effect.
"OPEC+ decided to maintain their current production levels and not make any additional cuts," Steward said. "That certainly helps with supply and keeps things relatively stable."
Supply is okay right now, but what demand will do, especially as the weather warms, is the unknown at this point.
"We saw last summer the record high gas prices both here in Kansas and nationally," Steward said. "In the middle of June, we had that peak. Will we reach those numbers again this summer? Time will tell."
Last summer, a lot of travelers chose to drive rather than fly for their summer trips. It remains to be seen how much trust in the airlines travelers will have in 2023.