Survey: Missourians feel less pain at pump

Missouri motorists have seen some relief the past week, with retail gas prices falling 6 cents to an average of $3.40 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 3,940 Missouri gas outlets. The national average has dropped 1.4 cents per gallon in the past week to $3.64 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.com.

In Cape Girardeau, gas prices range from $3.30 to $3.55 per gallon, according to the site. In Jackson, it's much the same range -- $3.30 to $3.49 per gallon. The price is $3.47 per gallon in Scott City.

"In the Midwest, especially in Missouri, prices are declining as refineries have largely finished up their maintenance. They're coming back online and producing more gasoline, which is precipitating the drop," GasBuddy.com senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan said in a news release.

Many times, there are other factors, such as competitively priced gas stations that result in lower prices, especially in St. Louis, he said.

Missouri's gas taxes also are 25 cents lower than in Illinois. DeHaan said the Missouri statewide average gas price is $3.41 per gallon, while the Illinois state average is $3.87 per gallon.

Nationwide, gas prices have been heading up since Feb. 7.

"And at least for now, prices have broken that upward trend and have stabilized. This is great news, as it likely means in the next couple weeks that gasoline prices will begin seeing more downward momentum. By Memorial Day, if there aren't major refinery kinks that develop, we could see the national average dropping into the $3.50s, or perhaps even lower," DeHaan said in the release.