Montana Gas Prices Hold Firm Despite Iran’s Attack on Israel

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Montana gasoline prices rose for months, but there has been little movement in the past three weeks. Patrick De Haan is the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy and he provided the current numbers.          

“Average gasoline prices in Montana have risen 1.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.57 per gallon today,” De Haan said. “Prices in Montana are 11.5 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 16.8 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.”        

As of Monday afternoon, almost all the stations in Missoula had their prices set to at least $3.59 per gallon.    

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Montana was priced at $3.28 per gallon yesterday while the most expensive was $3.99 per gallon.         

Montana is currently ranked 16th in the U.S. when it comes to the average price of gas, up one spot from last week.       

“The national average price of gasoline has risen 3.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.60 per gallon today,” De Haan said. “The national average is up 14.2 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 5.5 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel is down 1.2 cents in the last week and stands at $4.01 per gallon.”       

Read More: Montana Gas Prices Stabilize, Now Lower Than the National Average

With Iran's attack on Israel over the weekend, De Haan said the stakes couldn't have been higher for a major potential impact on oil and gasoline prices.  

“With the attacks largely thrawted and mostly unsuccessful, and with Iran signaling that their attack will be the end of their response, the risk to crude oil has diminished, and the situation is thankfully likely to de-escalate going forward," said De Haan, "If Israel, which has promised to respond with further attacks, indeed does press on, it could certainly still push oil prices higher. However, motorists can expect other factors to influence what they're paying at the pump.” 

De Haan said motorists in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. will soon see a spike in prices as they make the leap to summer gasoline. He believes that the national average will likely climb again in the coming week.