How much more are Kansans paying for gas? How the state and Wichita compare
Typical Kansas drivers saw a monthly increase in gas spending of $31.07 in a recent one-month period, due to the war in Iran, according to a recent report.
The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a non-profit, non-partisan tax policy organization, reported March 23 in its analysis “These States Are Most Impacted by the Spike in Gas Prices” Alabama is the most affected state in the nation, with the average Alabama driver spending $52 more per month compared to February.
The national average increase in monthly gas spending is $33.86, ITEP found. The areas least affected by increased gas prices include Washington D.C., New York, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, according to ITEP’s report.
Kansas’ average gas price was $4.077 per gallon as of May 13, compared to a national average of $4.511, according to travel company AAA. Wichita’s average gas price is a little lower than the Sunflower State’s average, at $3.997 per gallon, per AAA.
ITEP reported the effect of higher gas prices is especially severe in the South, and that effects of price increases have been felt unevenly across the nation for a few reasons.
“And partly it is because residents of some states purchase more gasoline because their populations are more dispersed, commutes are longer, transit service is sparser, and even the types of vehicles people own are different,” ITEP’s analysis reads.
Here’s how the top 10 states compared for additional monthly gas spending:
1. Alabama, with an average monthly spending spike of $52.01 per driver
2. Mississippi, $50.76
3. Wyoming, $48.78
4. Kentucky, $46.69
5. New Mexico, $44.25
6. Texas, $44.04
7. Tennessee, $42.44
8. Arizona, $41.69
9. Louisiana, $40.08
10. Indiana, $39.62
To evaluate each state for the effect of increased gas prices, ITEP used month-to-month gas price data from AAA as well as state-level data from the Federal Highway Administration on the amount of gasoline used, among other sources.
Gas prices in Kansas are $1.245 higher per gallon than they were one year ago, according to AAA data, with an increase of $0.587 over the last month. Slight price relief was seen in mid-April when the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for the world’s oil, reopened briefly, but it was soon closed again.
How can you save at the pump?
Auto club AAA offers an online tool where you can search for gas stations along your route, including pricing. GasBuddy is another option, offering an app to search for cheaper gas and a U.S. gas price map. As of May 13, GasBuddy shows crowdsourced prices of $3.99 at a Jump Start in Wichita, $3.97 at a Dillons and $3.79 at a Loves Travel Stop.
Upside offers cash back on gas purchases, as well as a map to locate the most affordable locations near you.
More money-saving tips to consider include using any cash-back offers your credit card company may have, checking if your company reimburses you for work trips, downloading gas station apps for offers and buying your gas with cash.
Additionally, if you happen to live near a Wichita Transit station, public transportation can be a more affordable alternative to driving.
