TOPEKA – As next week’s busy Thanksgiving travel weekend approaches, motorists in Kansas and across the country are paying more for gasoline this fall, compared to recent years. While the average price of gas in Kansas remained the same from a week ago – $2.40/gallon –  that price is 23 percent higher than one year ago, when the statewide average was $1.95.

“Many cities across Kansas are seeing gas prices 20 percent to 30 percent higher, when compared to the same time in 2016,” said Jennifer Haugh, AAA Kansas spokeswoman. “Gasoline supply has been limited by strong demand this October and November, keeping the price at the pumps higher. As Kansans prepare to travel for Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family, they will need to budget a bit more for gas this year. We’re still in pretty good shape nationally, though, as Kansas has the 12^thlowest state gas price average in the United States this week.”

Of the 10 Kansas cities regularly highlighted by AAA Kansas (see chart above), six have higher gas prices this week, two are lower, and Emporia remained the same. Garden City (+6 cents), Manhattan (+3) and Salina (+3) experienced the largest price increases, while Lawrence saw average pump prices fall five cents per gallon.

According to AAA Kansas, this week’s Kansas gas price extremes are:

HIGH: Hill City (Graham County) – $2.78

LOW: Waverly (Coffey County) – $2.21

At $2.56, the national gas price average has increased nine cents inside of 13 days. Strong fall consumer gasoline demand has continued into November and is chipping away at national gasoline inventory. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports total gasoline inventories dropped by 3.3 million bbl in their latest report.

“Compared to the first half of November last year, U.S average gas prices this November are 39 cents more expensive,” said AAA Kansas’ Haugh.

On the week, gas prices increased for the majority of states across the country. However, only four states are seeing double-digit fluctuations at the pump: Florida (+13 cents), Indiana (-13 cents), Alaska (+12 cents) and Ohio (-10 cents).

Gas prices in the Great Lakes and Central states continue to see volatility across the region. Motorists in six states are paying less on the week: Indiana (-13 cents), Ohio (-10 cents), Illinois (-6 cents), Wisconsin (-2 cent), Missouri (-2 cents) and Kentucky (-1 cent). The remaining states in the region saw modest price jumps with Nebraska’s gas price increasing the most with a five-cent increase. Michigan ($2.74) and Illinois ($2.72) are selling the most expensive gas in the region, while motorists in Kansas ($2.40) and Missouri ($3.36) are paying the least.

At 44.5 million bbl, the Great Lakes and Central region has seen gasoline inventories decline for six weeks straight and register at the lowest level since mid-November 2014.