Gas Prices Something to be Thankful For

It doesn’t seem that long ago when we were rather snidely noting the hyperventilating local news coverage of high gas prices in Northwest Arkansas.

All those villainous oil executives and convenience store operators must have had a sudden altruistic change of heart.

From just less than $4 a few months ago, Northwest Arkansas is enjoying nearly the lowest gas prices in the nation. On either side of our Springdale offices are gas stations that have raced each other to the bottom. On Nov. 26, prices had crossed below the $1.60 mark and one person saw it as low as $1.54 in Siloam Springs.

Although the metro area isn’t large enough to rate on Web sites like gasbuddy.com, those Springdale prices would rank as the fifth lowest in the nation.

Our neighbors are doing even better. Missouri ranks as the lowest average prices in the nation at $1.54 with Kansas City ($1.46) and St. Louis ($1.50). Oklahoma is second at $1.61 led by Tulsa’s $1.55 average.

Arkansas has the 10th lowest prices overall with an average of $1.67. We’re not naïve enough to believe these prices will last, but it is certainly something to be thankful for these days.