Gas prices jump 30 cents in Columbia

Driving in Columbia became more expensive as of Tuesday afternoon. Gas prices around town jumped 30 cents since Monday.

A spokesman with the Missouri Petroleum Marketers said a gas price battle between retailers is the reason Columbia has seen lower gas prices in the last few months.

But he said that price war is coming to an end.

“I think it’s important to understand for the past several months, the Columbia metro area has been benefiting from a gas price war between retailers, so prices have been depressed at the pump,” said Ron Leone with the Missouri Petroleum Marketers. “That war is going down and prices are simply going back to where they should have been all along, which is why you’re seeing the price increase over the last day or two.”

Despite what appears to be a significant hike in gas prices across the city of Columbia, Missouri still remains one of the states with prices below the national average.

And Columbia’s average gas price is lower than both the state and national average.

Phones were ringing off the hook in the ABC 17 Newsroom when the gas prices jumped from $2.99 a gallon to $3.29 a gallon.

ABC 17 News called the Attorney General’s office, but they said they haven’t gotten any complaints.

In Columbia, most gas stations are $3.29 a gallon.

The cheapest station ABC 17 News found Tuesday night was the Casey’s on Paris Road, across from the Gerbes. Gas was priced $3.22 a gallon.

Drivers filling up at the stations around town Tuesday evening said they were shocked.

“I don’t know what’s going on with economy,” one driver said. “A 30 cent jump today is outrageous!”

“Like, surprise!,” said another driver driver. “I’m mad because we were just here, literally, and here we are paying almost 30 cents more than we could have this morning.”

Drivers said they’ve never seen a jump this high, this rapidly.

Stay with ABC 17 News and abc17news.com for updates as they become available.