King Banaian

Gas prices in the St. Cloud area have come down a bit in the last week. St. Cloud State University Economist King Banaian joined me on WJON this week. He says President Biden's decision to release 180 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is reducing the price of gas at least in the short term.

The labor shortage in Central Minnesota is "real". That according to St. Cloud State Economist and Dean, School of Public Affairs. He joined me on WJON today. Banaian says the shortage could actually be getting worse.

Gas prices over the past few months have mostly been on the rise. St. Cloud State Economist and Dean, School of Public Affairs, King Banaian joined me on WJON this week. He says gas stations buy their gas from a distributor who charges them a certain price.

Gas prices have mostly stabilized locally for the past couple of weeks. St. Cloud State Economist and Dean, School of Public Affairs King Banaian joined me on WJON today. He says October is the month where we typically see the cheapest gas prices.

Almost everyone is hiring right now in Central Minnesota. St. Cloud State Economist King Banaian joined me on WJON today. He says the age group that hasn't returned to the workforce the most is those who are 55 years of age and older.

Hurricane Ida and the increased demand on gas pushed gas prices up locally in the past week. St. Cloud State Economist and Dean, School of Public Affairs, King Banaian joined me on WJON today. He expects gas prices to drop slightly after Labor Day weekend and continue to fall through October.