The problem is BP’s refinery in Whiting, Ind. Last week, the gasoline company had an emergency shutdown of the facility’s largest crude distillation unit, which handles more than half of the refinery’s capacity.
Advertisement
In Indiana, retail gasoline prices were averaging $2.97 a gallon Monday, according to price-checking firm GasBuddy, up from $2.36 a gallon one week ago.
Springfieldians could purchase gas at a citywide low price of $2.31 per gallon at Price Cutter Express, 1260 St. Louis St. Prices elsewhere ranged from $2.38 per gallon to $2.44 per gallon.
According to AAA, drivers should accelerate slowly, anticipate stops (take your foot off the gas as early as possible), drive slower (every 5 mph over 50 mph is equal to paying an additional 24 cents per gallon), and combine outings to avoid driving more than necessary.
“The refinery issue taking place in Indiana should have very little impact on our gas prices”, said Jim Lardear, director of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.
Gasoline prices are continuing to decrease in the Houston area in opposition to the escalating gas prices nationally where areas like the Midwest and California are dealing with refinery outages. “Gas prices should fall even faster in the fall when school is back in session”.
The website reported the statewide average Tuesday sat at $2.46 per gallon. Oregon is seventh down from sixth last week at $2.99 (down four cents).
On Monday, AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report showed the base-grade gasoline at $3.25 a gallon.
Locally, Sacramento and Stockton remain at an average of $3.21 for regular unleaded, while Modesto sees more of a drop at $3.16. “Millions of people are hitting the roads right now and these gas savings should make their trips more affordable”.
Advertisement
China’s devaluation of the yuan last week has raised questions about demand in that country and Greece’s debt crisis has dampened economic activity in the euro zone, says Phil Flynn, senior energy analyst with the Price Futures Group.
