Skip to page content Skip to site navigation
Home :: Consumer Protection :: Consumer Corner
AG Chris Koster | FAQs | Spanish Version / AGO en espaņol
Missouri Attorney General

Consumer Blog

Why do gas prices vary from town to town?

Missouri consumer writes:

I would like to know why is gas 25 to 30 cents cheaper in Jefferson city & Columba than at the lake or Eldon it all is supplyed by the same company in Columba.

I'm not sure what reason those stations would give you, but the bottom line is this: gas stations may set their own prices for gas, as long as they stay within 18 cents of the national average. The federal government tracks that average.

As for price gouging, this applies only during times of disaster. That's why you've heard about price gouging lawsuits from AG Nixon after Sept. 11th, Hurricane Katrina and last winter's ice storm in southwest Missouri.

bookmark on del.icio.us      Digg!      Add to Reddit

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Travis on August 3, 2007 4:08 pm :: Comments (1) :: Permalink

1 Response to "Why do gas prices vary from town to town?"

David says:

April 24, 2008 12:39 pm

My concern is why gas prices in my town of Seneca, MO. are always higher than gas stations that are only less than 20 miles away. I can go to Neosho or Joplin and they are always cheaper by about 8 to 10 cents on average. I really feel the owners of these gas staitons in Seneca, are gouging the people of this town. All of the gas well most of it comes from the refinery in Coffeyville KS, and yet we pay more here in Seneca, than any where else with in 20 miles of Seneca. I would hope that the AG office would look into this to see if there is any unfair price gouging goin on. David Fichtner, Seneca, MO.

 COMMENTS or QUESTIONS 
(required)
(required, will not be displayed)

Comments will first be reviewed to ensure the content is appropriate for display on the Attorney General's Web site, so expect a delay when searching for your post and response.

Consumer Corner

Blog Search

Recent Blog Entries

 
AGO en español    |    State homepage   |    Missouri statutes   |    Forms   |    Help   |    Site Map   |    RSS   |    Accessibility   |    Privacy Policy   |    Contact Us