SOUTH DAKOTA SEEING RECORD HIGH GASOLINE PRICES

NEWS from AAA South Dakota, April 18 – South Dakota’s retail gasoline prices are at record-setting levels, according to AAA South Dakota.

Today’s AAA Fuel Gauge Report (www.AAAFuelGaugeReport.com) shows self-serve regular now averaging $3.401 per gallon across South Dakota, surpassing the previous all-time high of $3.381, set May 23, 2007.

The national gas price average today is $3.445, also a record high.

“As the national average price of gasoline approaches $3.50 per gallon, we’re all wondering whether we’ll see $4 gas this year,” said Mark Madeja, spokesman for AAA South Dakota. “Although it’s hard to believe the national average will rise another 55 cents, it’s important to remember that the threat of a major disruption in either the production or the distribution of oil or gas has the potential to send prices off the charts. We’ve seen it happen before.”

Five of South Dakota’s six neighboring states are also seeing all-time high gas price averages today: North Dakota at $3.431; Minnesota, $3.357; Iowa, $3.388; Montana, $3.448; and Wyoming, $3.312. Nebraska’s average today of $3.417 is just a couple of cents away from the state’s highest price average ever.

“Unfortunately, as long as crude oil prices are at record highs, where they are today on the NYMEX, there’s upward pressure on pump prices,” Madeja said.   

California has the nation’s most expensive gasoline at $3.837, followed by Hawaii at $3.743 and Alaska at $3.711.