NATIONAL GASOLINE PRICE AVERAGE IS AT RECORD HIGH

NEWS from AAA South Dakota, March 11 – South Dakota’s gasoline price average today of $3.240 is still more than 14 cents below its all-time state high on May 23, 2007 of $3.381.

AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report (www.aaafuelgaugereport.com) shows the national average price for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline has risen 27 cents over the last 30 days, with today’s price sitting at $3.227. The price of diesel motor fuel is also at record levels, jumping nearly 48 cents in the last month both nationally and in South Dakota to $3.848 and $3.766 per gallon, respectively.

“The primary driver of these high prices is the price of crude oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange, now in record territory near $107 per barrel,” said Mark Madeja, spokesman for AAA South Dakota. “Once again, events overseas and in the financial markets are not breaking in favor of the motorist’s weekly visit to the gas pump.”

Spring break travelers leaving the state will find lower gasoline prices in all of South Dakota’s neighboring states. Wyoming reports an average today of $3.057, Minnesota is at $3.060, Iowa stands at $3.160, Montana at $3.184, North Dakota at $3.210 and Nebraska follows at $3.238. 

New Jersey’s average at $3.006 is the lowest in the country today, followed by Missouri at $3.030 and Wyoming standing at $3.057.  Locally, the Sioux Falls average is almost 5 cents higher than Rapid City today, respectively at $3.251 compared to $3.205.