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Costs decreasing ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday next week

By Ayanna Eckblad

Retail gasoline prices have always been volatile. Over the past few years, however, they have gone up and down dramatically.

In southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, gas prices typically change from day to day and can even fluctuate within the same 24-hour period.

This unpredictability can be not only frustrating, but also concerning for those who depend on the resource for many aspects of their daily lives.

In fact, the price of gas is so important that it became a major point of topic among consumers during the 2024 election.

High gas prices can especially put a strain on rural areas where public transportation may be less accessible, and personal vehicles are necessary for things such as getting to work, buying groceries, getting to appointments and other needs.

In 2019, both Minnesota and Iowa averaged about $2.50 per gallon of gas, according to energy.gov. Various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, supply and demand, world events and other factors, led to a dramatic rise and fall in gas prices. It dipped in spring of 2020, falling to around $1.50 per gallon, an amount that had not been seen since 2008. Prices peaked in summer of 2022 at about $4.70 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

At the end of October, gas prices in Minnesota averaged $3.03. In the weeks since, gas has seen a steady decrease, to between $2.59 and $2.69 per gallon in Freeborn County, as of Tuesday, according to GasBuddy. Reports closer to $2.40 were reported in the St. Cloud area.

Some local buyers say the decrease in gas prices have made a difference already, while others say the changes have not affected them yet.

Consumer Amanda Hackbart, who was at the Kum & Go gas station in Northwood last week, said she has not noticed a dramatic decrease in prices, and her gas-buying habits have not changed.

“It’s been nice to sort of see them down,” she said. “It’s been going steady a little bit. It’d be nice if they were lower.”

Gas prices on Tuesday were $2.69 at the Iowa gas station.

Another Northwood gas consumer, Jennifer Locke, said she has not noticed a major difference in gas prices either.

“Obviously there’s a difference between Iowa and Minnesota,” she said. “But it’s stayed pretty steady here.”

Locke said she noticed that gas tends to be slightly cheaper in Iowa than in Minnesota.

Michelle Lacher, manager at the Hy-Vee Fast and Fresh gas station in Albert Lea, said that sales volumes have gone up over the last few days.

“A lot of people said they were going to travel over Thanksgiving because of it, so I’ve heard a lot more travel plans.”