Fuel prices trend upward around Fourth of July weekend

Gas prices in Southeast Missouri have gone up over the Fourth of July weekend, a trend seen in other parts of the country as well.

Southeast Missourian file

Independence Day did not bring about freedom for travelers’ wallets as the cost of gasoline jumped modestly for the Fourth of July weekend.

While the average price for regular gasoline in Missouri remained at $3.12 a gallon, prices soared by several cents for municipal and county-level averages in Southeast Missouri. The national average jumped 1 cent to $3.51 per gallon.

Diesel prices increased as well, with the national average rising to $3.85 a gallon and the Show Me State’s average up to $3.47 a gallon.

California and Mississippi remain the states with the highest and lowest regular gasoline averages, respectively. California’s average stands at $4.79 a gallon while Mississippi’s is at $2.99 a gallon.

County averages Sunday (per AAA)

* Cape Girardeau: $3.14;

* Perry: $3.10;

* Scott: $3.23.

Price ranges Sunday (per GasBuddy)

* Cape Girardeau: $2.99 to $3.39;

* Jackson: $2.93 to $2.99;

* Perryville: $3.09;

* Scott City: $3.14 to $3.19.

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