Gas Prices Still Climbing In St. Louis Park Area

ST. LOUIS PARK, MN — Gas prices went up again in the St. Louis Park area this week, and some experts believe prices could continue to climb for the foreseeable future.

"More drivers fueling up here coupled with a persistent tight supply of oil worldwide provides the recipe for higher prices at the pump," said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. "And unfortunately for consumers, it does not appear that this trend will change anytime soon."

Gas prices have climbed in the Twin Cities metro area since this time last month, when the average price of a gallon of gas was 3.14, according to AAA.

As of Feb. 14, the average price is $3.30 in the metro.

While prices are moving up, the metro's gas is still cheaper than the national average of $3.48 per gallon.

AAA believes the main causes of gas price increases are the high cost of crude oil, winter weather, and higher demand. While spring is around the corner, the fading omicron variant surge could spur more demand for gas.

A year ago, the average gallon of gas cost metro residents $2.33. The escalation of gas prices mirrors a larger national trend of inflation. Succinctly, the price of nearly all goods has gone up markedly in the past year.

The consumer price index rose 7.5 percent year-over-year in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Across the Midwest, prices climbed even faster — up 7.9 percent in 12 months.

To the surprise of almost no one, the biggest price increases came from the food and energy sectors. Midwest residents are now paying 8 percent more for food than they did in 2021, and energy prices are up 25 percent compared to last year. The cost of gas is one of the primary movers for inflation, the report said.