File photo: WRN
Wisconsin Gas prices are rising faster than the national average.
There was a $0.13 jump in the statewide average price over the past week, up to $2.51 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuels. The jump was the fifth highest in the nation, although Nick Jarmusz with AAA-Wisconsin says prices tend to vary widely still depending on where you are in the state. The highest averages are in Milwaukee, at about $2.63 a gallon, while the lowest is in La Crosse, at about $2.39.
Supply issues are playing a big role, with a segment of a key pipeline between Milwaukee and Green Bay is undergoing repairs, which could keep it offline for several weeks. There are also what Jarmusz describes as “operational challenges” at refineries in Michigan and Illinois that supply fuel to the Midwest. Combined with higher demand from the summer travel season, both are driving prices up faster than elsewhere in the country.
Once supply issues are resolved, Jarmusz says Wisconsin will likely fall more in line with national pricing trends.