Averaging about $4.13 a gallon, Pam Moen with AAA Wisconsin says Eau Claire has set a new record high price for regular unleaded gasoline every day this week. Moen says it’s been an incredibly volatile week for gas prices in the entire Midwest. “What’s happening overall in the Midwest … prices have been higher than the national average, largely because of the scheduled refinery maintenance that has tightened supplies.”
On top of that, Moen says, last week several more refineries went down unexpectedly, which made the tight supply situation even tighter, triggering prices to spike.
There is good news as we approach the Memorial Day weekend. Moen says supplies are improving as some refineries are coming back online and replacement supplies are diverted from other parts of the country. “I won’t be surprised if we have seen the peak for prices here in Wisconsin and will actually start to enjoy some relief, even if it’s modest, going into the holiday weekend.”
Moen says the average statewide price for regular unleaded is about $3.93 a gallon. That’s 33 cents more than a month ago.
Due to a lower state gas tax, motorists can usually find cheaper gas in the Gopher State than here in the Badger State. But, some stations there were selling the fuel at around $4.30 a gallon.