July 3, 2017 – At $2.23, today’s average national gas price is the cheapest the country has seen all year, according to AAA. On the week, gas prices fell in 46 states.

According to AAA Kansas, with the record-breaking Independence Day holiday travel weekend underway, average gas prices in Kansas continue their steady decline this summer. This week’s statewide average of $2.05 per gallon is two cents lower than last week at this time.

Motorists in 94 Kansas communities are now enjoying average prices of $2 per gallon or less, AAA Kansas notes. Kansas’ average gas price registers 11th lowest in the nation.

Of the 10 regularly reported Kansas cities (see chart below), eight saw price decreases in the past week, while prices in Hays rose by two cents per gallon and Manhattan remained flat. Pittsburg experienced the largest price decrease, falling four cents to $1.99. Wichita fell two cents in the past week to $1.96 and comes in as the 16th lowest metro area in America.

This week’s Kansas cities with the state’s gas price extremes are:
HIGH: Glen Elder – $2.40
LOW: Cunningham, Kingman, Moundridge, Newton, Pratt – $1.90

“The combination of moderate demand and increased gasoline and crude output continues to put downward pressure on gas prices,” said Shawn Steward, AAA Kansas spokesperson. “While holiday gasoline demand is likely to reach new highs, it will probably not be enough to cause a significant increase on the price of gasoline in the coming week.”

Nationwide, the last time gas prices were this cheap for the Independence Day holiday was 2005. That year, the price on July 4was $2.23, which was the first time gas prices ever rose above the $2.00 mark for the holiday. Today’s price is three cents less than a week ago, 15 cents less than a month ago and four cents less than this day a year ago.