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Gas Prices Drop for 5 Days

Shortages remain in Southeast

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

September 22, 2008

The average national price of unleaded regular is now $3.739 a gallon, almost 38 cents less than the record price of $4.114 set July 17. The current price however, is 33 percent higher than one year ago when regular gasoline sold for $2.810 a gallon.

Three states report gas prices above $4 a gallon. The are Alaska, Hawaii and Illinois. Alaska remains the state with the most expensive gas prices, at $4.297 a gallon. The least expensive gasoline is found in New Jersey at $3.458 a gallon, according to AAA.

Gasoline shortages continued through some parts of the South with closed filling stations and high prices lines to fill up at the pump. Notable shortages and gas lines were reported in Atlanta, Nashville and Tallahassee.

Gasoline prices remain high in Florida but should decline this week as supplies improve, according to the AAA Club South.

The average price of regular in Florida is $3.785, up 7.5 cents from a month ago.

"Refineries along the Texas and west Louisiana Gulf Coast, which had been closed, are gradually coming back online as power is restored in those areas," Randy Bly, spokesman for AAA, said. "The gasoline supply situation is improving, but it's like trying to turn a huge ship." Bly said.

The Florida attorney general reported receiving more than 9,000 calls and e-mails about state gasoline prices and has referred 2,848 complaints about price gouging to its economic-crimes division for review.

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