Missoula Gas Prices Are Higher Than the Statewide Average

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Montana gasoline prices keep rising but remain lower than the national average. Patrick De Haan is the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy and he provided the current numbers.     

“Average gasoline prices in Montana have risen 6.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.15 per gallon today,” De Haan said. “Prices in Montana are 35.3 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 8.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.”   

As of Monday afternoon, almost all the stations in Missoula had their prices set to at least $3.18 per gallon. 

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Montana was priced at $2.89 per gallon yesterday while the most expensive was $3.39 per gallon.    

Montana is currently 28th in the U.S. when it comes to the average price of gas.   

“The national average price of gasoline has fallen 1.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.24 per gallon today,” De Haan said. “The national average is up 13.3 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 9.2 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has fallen 2.6 cents in the last week and stands at $4.06 per gallon.”    

Read More: We Warned You... Montana Gas Prices Keep Climbing

According to De Haan, motorists have finally seen a bit of a break in the recent rise in the national average, with more states seeing drops than increases in the last week.  

“While the pause has certainly been nice, this is more like a rain delay than it is a 7th-inning stretch," said De Haan. "It's likely only a matter of time before we see the rise re-engage and prices start to head higher, but we'll take any break that we can. Oil prices have shown some signs of struggling last week after coming within arms reach of $80 per barrel before falling closer to $76, but all eyes are on refiners as utilization remained seasonally weak, around 80% of capacity, meaning there's less gasoline and diesel being produced.” 

De Haan said that's why it's just a matter of time before prices collide with rising demand and start to accelerate again.