Average gas prices continue to rise across the U.S., St. Joseph

MISSOURI (KQTV) -- Gas prices in Missouri continue to rise as the conflict in Iran continues.

In 2025, unleaded gas prices averaged out at about $2.80 per gallon in Missouri, according to AAA.

As of March 16, 2026, the average price for a gallon of unleaded gas across the state is $3.24.

Prices went over $3 in St. Joseph just last week. One St. Joseph gas station employee said customers are making changes to the type of fuel they choose, opting to pay less at the pump where they can.

"I know there's a lot of people that used to use premium, and now they're going down to regular because they don't want to pay that much for gas prices," Fast Gas Assistant Manager Brittany Andrews said.

The national average currently sits at $3.71 for a tank of regular gas.

The spike in prices comes as oil prices are spiking to almost $100 a barrel, the highest they've been since being over $100 a barrel in May of 2022, according to tradingeconomics.com.

Additionally, the Strait of Hormuz, which is the only maritime passageway out of the Gulf and the route for about a quarter of the World's liquefied natural gas and trade, is closed, given the conflicts with Iran.