Missouri Weekly Fuel Update and Outlook

June 15- Average retail gasoline prices in Missouri have risen 8.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.63/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 3,940 gas outlets in Missouri. This compares with the national average that has increased 5.5 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.81/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Missouri during the past week, prices yesterday were 82.1 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 17.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 11.1 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 85.8 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

"Thanks to a large surprise decline in both crude oil and gasoline inventories last week, gasoline prices unexpectedly regained upward momentum," said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst. "The government's weekly report on petroleum supplies was a major departure from what we've seen this far in 2015: major jumps in crude inventories, so the market reacted significantly to the year's first big decline in supply. Meanwhile, continued and new glitches in the Great Lakes region has led to a big spike in prices throughout Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia and Wisconsin. It's been a rough week at the pump as unexpected malfunctions and summer maintenance have led to very tight supply in the region. The rest of the country saw modest increases in the last week with the primary catalyst being the lousy EIA report. Should we see another big surprise this week, I don't want to see the market's reaction- I see oil currently overvalued and believe the market will eventually come to its senses," DeHaan said.