(Garden City, KS) (westernkansasnews.com)

After several weeks of decline at the onset of summer the price at the pump surged nationally by 5.1-percent, or roughly 17-cents a gallon in July.  That marked the first monthly increase since March and the largest increase during the month of July since 2000, according to Triple-A.  A Triple-A spokesperson attributes the spike in price to rising crude and ethanol prices, geopolitical concerns in the Middle East and mixed economic news surrounding the global economy.

The current national average price of regular-unleaded is now $3.63.  In Kansas the statewide average is $3.55, 7-cents a gallon more than the statewide average in neighboring Colorado where it is $3.48.  In Garden City the price at the pump ping-pongs between $3.40 and $3.59 a gallon.  In Dodge City the price at the pump fluctuates between $3.49 and $3.65 for every gallon pumped.

Gas prices in August historically have declined seven out of the previous ten years.  However, AAA predicts that gas prices for August likely will remain relatively flat or may even experience a small increase for the first time since 2009. Gas prices should begin to fall soon after Labor Day as the summer driving season ends.