Gas prices rise; summer travel likely will be affected

Published 10:00 pm Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Average retail gasoline prices in Minnesota have risen 8.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.83 per gallon on Tuesday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 2,856 gas outlets in the state.

This compares with the national average that has increased 4.3 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.92 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

As of Tuesday, gas prices in Albert Lea averaged out to $2.87 per gallon, ranging from $2.84 to $2.89 per gallon, according to the site.

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In addition, GasBuddy found that summer travel is poised to plunge as a result of high gas prices, according to GasBuddy’s 2018 Summer Travel survey. According to the annual survey, only 58 percent of respondents said they will take a road trip this summer, a 24 percent decrease from last year, while 39 percent cited high gas prices for impacting their summer travel decisions, compared to 19 percent in 2017.

Including the change in gas prices in Minnesota during the past week, prices Sunday were 52.9 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 27 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 16.1 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 56.8 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

Increases include:

• Wisconsin: $2.87 per gallon, up 7.2 cents per gallon from last week

• Fargo: $2.68 per gallon, up 6.4 cents per gallon from last week

• Twin Cities: $2.84 per gallon, up 9.8 cents per gallon from last week.