"Welcome news for motorists:" Lower gas prices should return as BP refinery goes back online

MILWAUKEE – Drivers across Wisconsin should see lower gas prices in the coming days and weeks thanks to the restart of the crude distillation unit (CDU) at BP’s Whiting refinery earlier Tuesday, August 25th.

Prices throughout the Midwest rose dramatically in the days following the unexpected shutdown of that unit on August 8th, although they did stabilize and begin to gradually drop in recent days.

According to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Wisconsin is currently $2.81, down about 15 cents from this time last week, but still 24 cents higher than the US national average of $2.57 – the lowest for this date since 2004.

Averages in the state should begin to move closer to that mark as the CDU restart begins to increase supplies of refined fuel in Midwestern markets.

“This is welcome news for local motorists hoping to take advantage of the historic savings we are seeing elsewhere around the county,” said Nick Jarmusz, director of public affairs for AAA Wisconsin.   “Prices could continue to drop even more thanks to a combination of low crude oil costs, decreasing demand and the switch back to winter-blend fuels.”

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