State gas prices hit record high

The AAA says the average price of gasoline has hit a new record in Minnesota, easily beating the previous record of just over $3.31 a gallon, set last May.

The automotive group says that overnight, the price of a gallon of regular-grade gas was just over $3.39. That was the reading at many Brainerd stations Saturday morning.

Despite the record high prices in Minnesota, drivers here are paying less than the national average, which stood at just over $3.47 as of 3 a.m. Saturday.

However, the AAA says Minnesotans are still paying about 30 cents more for a gallon of gas than they were on March 18.

The group based its finding on an overnight survey of 2,168 filling stations statewide and 983 in the metro area.

As of Friday, prices in the Twin Cities were above the state average, with a gallon going for $3.38. Those in Duluth were paying about the same.

Also Friday, drivers in St. Cloud were paying nearly $3.37, and in Rochester, drivers were paying even less - just over $3.33 a gallon.

- Staff and wire reports