It’s nothing new, but it is news that hurts everyone in Clarksdale and Coahoma County.
A 20-cent spike in gas prices last week made many drivers in Clarksdale howl, and have moderated some as local gas stations get back in the swing of things following a bitter snowstorm that hit Clarksdale and the Mid-South recently.
A local jobber who asked not to be identified said the price was influenced by ice across north Mississippi and particularly around Memphis, that curtailed delivery of fuel to the pump.
But people buying gas on Tuesday, didn’t want excuses.
“I have to have my car to get to work,” said Alaiya Johnson, 36, who lives in the county. “I fill up about every other week. I won’t be driving anywhere this week if I can help it.”
But Johnson said if her baby gets sick or she has to have someone you, just go.
Arterio Murray, 24, said he will stay home this week and watch the Superbowl.
“I may do a little shopping,” said Murray. “I always see prices are cheaper in Batesville and Cleveland. That’s not right.”
The gasoline supply line is about two-weeks long. That means things in the Middle East, refining problems in Baton Rouge, the weather and seasonal demand hit the pump and prompt prices changes – up and down.
The price for a 55-gallon barrel of oil in Saudi Arabia was $.
West Texas Intermediate was $73.78 Wednesday and had gone up 79-cents.
North Sea Brent was $79.41 and has gone up $1.08.
Murban Crude was 79.01 and went up 34 cents and this after they cut “Asian Customers” a deal for $2 less in January.
LOCAL PRICES
The cheapest gasoline price in Clarksdale on Tuesday was listed at $2.63 a gallon at the two Quick Stops on Highway 49.
Walmart followed ay $2.65, Citco at $2.69, Exxon at $2.70 and Double Quick on Hwy 161 at $2.75 and Double Quick on Desoto at $2.76
These prices were near state-wide prices.
Average gasoline prices in Mississippi have risen 5.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.72/g today, according to GasBuddy's survey of 2,014 stations in Mississippi. Prices in Mississippi are 9.8-cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 36.7-cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has risen 3.0 cents in the last week and stands at $3.92 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Mississippi was priced at $2.42/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.69/g, a difference of $1.27/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.42/g while the highest was $3.69/g, a difference of $1.27/g.
The national average price of gasoline has risen 4.3-cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.12/g today. The national average is up 4.0 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 32.5 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
Historical gasoline prices in Mississippi and the national average going back ten years:
Feb. 5, 2023: $3.09/g (U.S. Avg: $3.44/g)
Feb. 5, 2022: $3.05/g (U.S. Avg: $3.43/g)
Feb. 5, 2021: $2.12/g (U.S. Avg: $2.46/g)
Feb. 5, 2020: $2.10/g (U.S. Avg: $2.46/g)
Feb. 5, 2019: $1.96/g (U.S. Avg: $2.29/g)
Feb. 5, 2018: $2.36/g (U.S. Avg: $2.60/g)
Feb. 5, 2017: $2.06/g (U.S. Avg: $2.26/g)
Feb. 5, 2016: $1.58/g (U.S. Avg: $1.76/g)
Feb. 5, 2015: $2.00/g (U.S. Avg: $2.15/g)
Feb. 5, 2014: $3.07/g (U.S. Avg: $3.26/g)
Neighboring areas and their current gas prices:
"A majority of states again saw average gasoline prices rise over the last week, pushed slightly higher by oil prices that had risen to multi-month highs. While most states saw price increases, they were somewhat tame, though the trend will likely begin to accelerate towards the end of the month. For now, the most common gas price in the U.S. remains $2.99 per gallon, but its days are numbered," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "While Southern California is already beginning the transition to summer gasoline, and with it, higher prices, we could see a brief 'clearance sale' on remaining winter gasoline in some pockets of interior states as refiners start to move these time-sensitive barrels out of the system. Motorists shouldn't be fooled into thinking any drop in prices is a long-term trend, but rather a very short term one. I expect any modest and temporary drops in prices will be replaced by pricier gasoline as we get closer to the start of spring."
GasBuddy is the authoritative voice for gas prices and the only source for station-level data. GasBuddy's survey updates 288 times every day from the most diverse list of sources covering nearly 150,000 stations nationwide, the most comprehensive and up-to-date in the country. GasBuddy data is accessible at http://prices.GasBuddy.com.
