Gas prices in Montana continue to climb through mid-March, however, there is hope that a shift in oil prices may keep prices from climbing too much in the near future.

"Our survey incorporates 615 different gas stations across the State of Montana," said Gasbuddy.com Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "What we've seen this week [March 10 -17] is that those stations have raise their price by an average of about 2.5 cents per gallon to $3.24."

Prices are about eleven cents cheaper in Montana than they were last year, but are already up more than 17 cents compared to mid-February.

"Across the state of Montana we're seeing $3.05 in Great Falls, $3.05 in Bozeman, $3.07 in Billings, $3.08 in Missoula," DeHaan said. "Prices still in Montana, among the lowest across the nation. It does look as if we might have a brief week off in terms of a slow increase at the pump. Oil prices are down by about a dollar per barrel."

The drop in oil prices is correlated with a drop in wholesale gasoline prices which has dipped by 5 to 9 cents on average in the U.S.

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