HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Gas prices in Kansas followed a national trend this week, declining for the first time this year. The average price across Kansas is now $2.43 per gallon, which is 3 cents less than one week ago.

After experiencing the fifth-largest gas price increase in the nation — 17 cents — over the previous month, Kansas motorists are finally experiencing a reversal of that trend and joining more than three-quarters of the nation in seeing lower prices at the pump.

Locally, most stations are at $2.38 per gallon, while Murphy’s USA is at $2.36. In South Hutchinson, most stations are higher than the price in Hutchinson, with the exception of Love’s, where the price is $2.35.

According to AAA Kansas, this week’s Kansas gas price extreme is in Oberlin at $2.77. The lowest this week is in Goddard at $2.25 per gallon.