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Gas Prices Trickle Down

Consumers cut summer driving

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

September 5, 2008

Gasoline prices have dropped 44 cents from the record of $4.114 set July 17 but average national prices are still 87 cents above last year.

Consumers are cutting back on their driving with demand for gasoline dropping almost 4 percent during July and August.

The decline in pump prices slowed with the hurricane season as Tropical Storm Hanna bears down on the Carolinas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report.

The average price of regular unleaded gasoline is now $3.674 a gallon. Mid-grade sells for $3.831 and premium $3.946.Diesel sells for an average price of $4.257.

Alaska and Hawaii remain the two states with gas prices above $4 a gallon. The cheapest gas is now found in Delaware at $3.451 a gallon.

Gas price roundup

Here is a look at some gasoline prices from around the country in the ConsumerAffairs.Com Gas Price Roundup.

California: Gasoline prices in the state have dropped for 11 straight weeks and now average $3.891 but the prices is still $1.07 more than one year ago.

"Gasoline demand typically drops nationally after Labor Day through the end of the year," said Jeffrey Spring, a spokesman for the Automobile Club of Southern California. "However, we've seen prices increase in prior fall seasons because of supply issues or investor worries that drive up the price of crude oil and wholesale gasoline."

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles area is $3.852 a gallon, which is 4.5 cents less than last week. In San Diego, the price is $3.843, which is 2.5 cents under last week's price.

The highest gasoline prices in California are found in San Francisco at $4.061, one of just two markets in the state over $4. The other is in the Central Valley where gasoline sells for an average of $4.029. The cheapest gas in California is now found is in Orange County at $3.809.

Maryland: The statewide average fell to $3.52 a gallon. Drivers in Maryland are paying 14 cents less than the national average.

"Although the price of gasoline is still around 90 cents higher than it was at this time last year, local motorists and motorists across the region find themselves in an enviable position," said Ragina Averella, AAA Mid-Atlantic's manager of public and government affairs, in a statement.

Most of the mid-Atlantic states now enjoy some of the cheapest gas in the nation. Pennsylvanians are paying an average of $3.59 a gallon. Delaware and New Jersey consumers are paying $3.45.

Gasoline sells for an average prices of $3.48 in Baltimore, down from $3.81 a month ago.A year ago, Baltimore drivers paid $2.64 a gallon.

Texas: The average retail price of a gallon of gasoline in Texas jumped nearly 7 cents this week, despite oil and gas producers reporting little damage from Hurricane Gustav.

According to AAA-Texas, Houston continues to have the cheapest gas in the state at $3.44 a gallon, up 4 cents from last week.

"Since Gustav caused minimal damage or disruption to oil production, the price spike appears to be short-lived," said AAA-Texas Houston spokeswoman Sarah Schimmer. "In many regions, we have seen prices start to inch down in the last couple of days."

Reporting the highest price in the state is Beaumont at $3.63, which is up 13 cents. El Paso, with gas prices at $3.58, is the only area in Texas that saw a decline in price, 2 cents lower from last week.

Florida: Gasoline prices in the state remained stable even as Hurricanes Gustav and Hanna worried Floridians.

Regular self-serve averages $3.693 across Florida, 93 cents more than 1 year ago.

Regular sells for $3.712 in Daytona Beach, $3.781 in Miami and $3.620 in Orlando.

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