Missoula, MT – Gasoline prices in Montana have kept falling for the seventh straight week, according to the latest figures from GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, Patrick De Haan. The state’s average price now sits at $4.06 per gallon, a 21.9‑cent decrease from the prior week.
De Haan noted that the current price is 40.7 cents per gallon lower than a month ago, though it remains $1.07 per gallon higher than the same time last year. The trend mirrors the national market, where the average price dropped 15.9 cents to $3.96 per gallon, pushing the national average below $4 for the first time since early August.
Local Pump Prices Reflect Statewide Decline
In Missoula, two stations at the corner of Reserve and Mullan were charging $3.89 on Tuesday morning, a 35‑cent reduction from the previous week. Nearby stations on South Avenue and Reserve Street posted prices of $3.99 and $4.06, each roughly 30 cents lower than a week earlier. Another Reserve‑side station listed $3.99, down 28 cents.
GasBuddy’s price reports show the cheapest station in Montana priced at $3.69 per gallon yesterday, while the most expensive reached $4.99 per gallon. With these figures, Montana now ranks 25th in the nation for average gasoline cost, three spots lower than the previous week.
Seasonal Factors, Not Election Politics
De Haan emphasized that the price drop is driven by seasonal market dynamics rather than the recent election. He explained that refiners typically finish maintenance and increase output as demand eases with cooler weather. Additional supply flowing through the Strait of Hormuz also supports lower prices.
“Many will assume the election had something to do with it, but that’s a myth,” De Haan said. “Gas prices have fallen in the 30 days leading up to the election every year since 2006 except 2010, and it’s typically seasonal.” He added that while the election outcome may send a message to Washington to focus on affordability, the immediate relief at the pump is rooted in market seasonality.
Diesel Prices Follow Similar Pattern
National diesel prices also fell, decreasing 9.5 cents over the past week to $6.19 per gallon. De Haan reported that diesel prices declined in nearly every state, mirroring the gasoline trend.
Overall, the data suggest a broad, nationwide easing of fuel costs, offering drivers in Montana and across the country a welcome reprieve at the pump.
Original reporting: NewsTalk KGVO 1290 (Townsquare) — read the source article.
