Update CSiNewsNow.com:  Gas prices observed in Jamestown, ND Saturday May 18, 2013 at I94 & 281 S were $4.29.    BISMARCK, N.D. (AP May 17, 2013) – Gasoline prices are on the rise and headed to a record in North Dakota.

North Dakota AAA spokesman Gene LaDoucer says the average price of gas in the state could reach $4.15 per gallon, breaking the July 2008 record of $4.08.

A gallon of regular unleaded gas already is at $4.24 per gallon at some gas stations in the Bismarck-Mandan area. And North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association President Mike Rud (rood) says some stations in Jamestown and Fargo have even run out of fuel.

LaDoucer says several large refineries that feed the region are down for maintenance or upgrades, and that a recent fire at a refinery in Minnesota also has contributed to the supply problems.

 

Previously…

CHICAGO (May 14, 2013) – U.S. retail gas prices have risen from their March & April slumber and nowhere has the awakening been ruder than it’s been in seven of the plains states.

Over the past week, retail gasoline prices spiked as follows:

North Dakota: ($0.19 per gallon); Kansas ($0.17); Nebraska ($0.16); Iowa ($0.15); Oklahoma ($0.14); South Dakota ($0.13); Minnesota ($0.12).

“Most states have seen increases over the past week and the national retail average reflects that with a 6 cent per gallon increase, but clearly, these states have gotten the brunt of it,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst, GasBuddy. And, he cautions, “We could see another 10- to 20-cent increase in these states over the next four days. Tomorrow’s Energy Information Administration report could add to the volatility.”

What’s behind the run-up? Tom Kloza, GasBuddy’s chief oil analyst, says there are three factors:

He cited typically low mid-spring inventories in some Midcontinent states as well as the diversion of some supply to Great Lakes markets that saw low refinery output thanks to scheduled heavy maintenance. Meanwhile, a major turnaround for a HollyFrontier refinery in East Tulsa is about to remove some production from the Oklahoma and Kansas refinery centers that provide much of the gasoline and diesel for Plains’ states. Kloza stressed that the May price spike would be an episode, rather than a long term trend for the region.

Previously…

North Dakota, May 13, 2013 — Average retail gasoline prices in North Dakota have risen 17.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.75/g  Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 493 gas outlets in North Dakota. This compares with the national average that has increased 6.2 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.57/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in North Dakota during the past week, prices yesterday were 11.4 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 15.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 5.0 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 15.4 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

“The national average has perked up again in the last seven days across the nation,” said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “Many motorists remain skeptical of the so called reasons that we blame higher prices on: refinery production and maintenance, tightening supply, and the now completed switch over to EPA mandated cleaner summer gasoline. Tight gasoline supply exists especially along the West Coast, and other factors are coming into play in some of the bigger metro areas where more expensive reformulated gasoline has hit pumps,” DeHaan said.

About GasBuddy

GasBuddy operates NorthDakotaGasPrices.com and over 250 similar websites that track gasoline prices at over 140,000 gasoline stations in the United States and Canada. In addition, GasBuddy offers a free smartphone app which has been downloaded over 25 million times to help motorists find the lowest gasoline prices in their area.