Gas prices soar to record high in Minnesota

Gas pumps
Gasoline prices are reaching record territory in Minnesota.
MPR Photo/Melanie Sommer

(AP) - Gasoline prices remained well above the national average in Minnesota on Tuesday, but one analyst said he didn't expect many drivers to change their habits going into the long Memorial Day weekend.

According to Triple-A's FuelGaugeReport.com, Minnesota's statewide average was at $3.31 a gallon on Tuesday, about 10 cents higher than the national average of $3.20.

But the average diesel price in the state - $2.87 - was about 4 cents lower than the national average of $2.91.

In the Twin Cities on Tuesday, average gas prices were around $3.33 a gallon -- about 2 cents more than the statewide average. The Rochester area had the cheapest prices for a gallon of regular unleaded, $3.26, according to the Web site.

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Yet even with the high prices, some analysts suspect driver's won't change their behavior much.

"Consumers are getting used to seeing it and aren't conserving as much as they were from the shock after Hurricane Katrina," said Jason Toews of TwinCitiesGasPrices.com, which helps motorists find the lowest prices.

"Back then, they talked about carpooling, taking public transportation or staying closer to home on Memorial Day weekend," he said. "Now they're just budgeting more for gas because they're used to it."

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)