ST. LOUIS — Average gas prices in St. Louis saw a dip this week but remained high as the national average saw its first price drop in 12 weeks, according to a recent survey from GasBuddy.
Prices were averaging $3.98 per gallon in St. Louis as of Sunday, a drop of 7.5 cents from last week. The average was still 69.6 cents higher than a month ago and $1.18 higher than a year ago. The national average as of Monday was $4.23.
The drop comes after weeks of an unprecedented rise in gas prices. In early March, average prices jumped 28 cents in a week as the national average hit $4 for the first time since 2008.
If you head to KSDK.com/gasprices, you'll find a list of the 10 cheapest prices for gas in the greater St. Louis area.
The top 10 list is powered by GasBuddy, which also has smartphone apps in the Apple App and Google Play stores, so you can find the cheapest option while on the go.
And if you want to make your tank last a little longer, here are some tips from fueleconomy.gov to maximize your miles per gallon.
- Drive sensibly: Aggressive driving like speeding, rapid acceleration and braking wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by roughly 15% to 30% at highway speeds and 10% to 40% in stop-and-go traffic.
- Observe the speed limit: The average car reaches optimal fuel economy at around 50 mph. Fueleconomy.gov says each 5 mph over 50 is like paying an additional $0.24 at the pump.
- Avoid hauling cargo on the roof: More drag means less efficiency. If you can, pack your cargo inside the car to increase your car's aerodynamics.
- Don't pack more than you need: Every 100 extra pounds in your car can reduce your efficiency by 1%. That can add up over a long trip.
- Use cruise control: Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.
- Keep your tires inflated properly: Check your door jam for the PSI that is best for your car. It can save you a few cents per gallon.