Refinery maintenance is sending gas prices higher and St. Joseph is still one of the most expensive metros for fuel in the state.

According to AAA gas has held steady for 13 days but due to maintenance gas began ticking higher last week reaching today’s national average of $2.31 a gallon, an increase of two cents from a week ago.  In Missouri, gas jumped up 15 cents to an average of $2.25 a gallon.  But in St. Joseph gas made the biggest jump, up 19 cents to an average of $2.28 a gallon, three cents higher than the state average.

“It’s based on cost, oil cost, transportation cost, all types of factors,” said a St. Joseph gas station representative who didn’t want to be named. “It’s all got to do with competition.  Cost and competition.”

Once again, St. Joseph came in as the highest metro in Missouri to fuel up in. Kansas City held an average that was four cents cheaper at $2.24 a gallon.

Our source told us that’s because Kansas City has more competition so everyone is fighting for the gallons.  He said if St. Joseph had more competition to drive the price down it could go the other way.

The cheapest metro to fuel up in Monday morning was St. Louis holding an average of $2.16 a gallon.

AAA said the refinery maintenance season is reportedly nearing it’s peak.  The agency said before the end of the year, drivers could still see the national average fall below $2 per gallon for the first time since 2009, assuming crude oil prices do not increase and there are no unexpected disruptions to supply.