The state’s latest fuel price survey chronicles the price jump we’ve all seen at the pump. Department of Natural Resources analyst Jennifer Moehlmann says the state’s August 15th survey showed the average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded was $1.54. But Moehlmann says officials knew prices were edging up even more because of the power outage in the northeast, and they did a sample survey this morning which found the statewide average price to be $1.59. Moehlmann expects gas prices to stabilize soon. Moehlmann says prices will be in the mid-$1.50s to the low $1.60s because the refineries that were shut down by last weekend’s power outage weren’t severely impacted. Moehlmann says prices may even begin to drop in two weeks or so. The average price of a gallon of gas was 11-cents lower in mid-July. A year ago, gas was selling for $1.35 a gallon.Seven refineries were affected by last weekend’s power outage, and while four are now back in normal operating mode, three are still having production problems. Moehlmann says the gas problems in the Phoenix area are due to a pipeline rupture, so that’s having no impact on Iowa pump prices. The average price of diesel fuel is about $1.51, up seven cents from mid-July.
