Kansas City Gas Eases Slightly While Diesel Rises on the Week

Kansas City regular gas eased slightly Friday, while diesel moved differently over the week. AAA’s July 31 Kansas City, Missouri-only metro average shows regular gas at $3.834 per gallon and diesel at $4.864 per gallon.

Regular gas was down 0.4 cents from Thursday and 2.4 cents from a week ago. Diesel was nearly unchanged from Thursday, falling 0.2 cents, but it was 4 cents higher than a week ago.

Regular gas is lower than last week

AAA’s Kansas City regular-gas average was also up 32.7 cents from a month ago and 98.1 cents from a year ago.

For a driver filling a 15-gallon tank, the year-over-year difference works out to nearly $15 more per fill at the metro average, before accounting for changes in driving distance or vehicle efficiency.

Diesel is nearly flat day to day but higher for the week

Friday’s diesel average of $4.864 was 0.2 cents below Thursday’s $4.866. Compared with a week ago, however, diesel was up 4 cents.

The longer-term increase was larger than the change for regular gas. Diesel was 50.3 cents higher than a month ago and $1.323 higher than a year ago, according to AAA’s Kansas City comparison table.

That matters for contractors, delivery operators, restaurants and service businesses that rely on commercial vehicles. The price data does not show whether local businesses have changed prices, routes or schedules, but fuel costs remain an operating expense to watch.

National and Midwest context

The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s July 28 update provides broader context, but its figures are not Kansas City prices. For the week ending July 27, EIA listed regular gasoline at $4.096 per gallon nationally and $3.882 in the Midwest.

EIA listed on-highway diesel at $5.313 nationally and $5.196 in the Midwest for the same week. Those weekly regional figures are higher than the July 31 AAA Kansas City metro averages, reflecting differences in timing, geography and survey methods.

What Kansas City drivers should watch

For commuters and households, Friday’s gasoline average offers a small break from the previous day and week, but it remains nearly $1 per gallon above the year-ago level. Diesel users are seeing less day-to-day movement, yet the weekly and yearly comparisons remain higher.

Local station prices can vary significantly from the metro average. Drivers comparing stations before filling up may find meaningful differences across Kansas City neighborhoods and nearby communities, especially for diesel.

What are the highest and lowest pump prices you are seeing around Kansas City? Share the station and price in the comments.

Sources

• AAA Fuel Prices — Missouri metro averages
• U.S. Energy Information Administration — Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update