Gasbuddy update: Montana lower than national average

Average retail gasoline prices in Montana have risen 1.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.19 per gallon yesterday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 615 gas outlets in Montana.

This compares with the national average that has increased 2.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.28 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

“While the benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed last week near $53 per barrel, it’s doubtful that we’ll see any momentum this week since trading is generally low volume between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Similarly, expect the aggressive escalation that they saw for retail gasoline prices through much of December to stall out in the final week of the year,” Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, said.