AAA Fuel Gauge Report: Price Movement Varies by State

NEW YORK -- Gas prices continue to creep down from this year's peak price of $3.79 -- which it hit on Feb.27. However, motorists in some states are experiencing a little less pain at the pump than motorists in other states.

The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline stands at $3.68 per gallon today, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Gas prices are now 1 cent less than one week ago, fractions of a cent less than one month ago and 15 cents less than the average price one year ago.

Notably, today is the first day since Jan. 11 that the average price at the pump has registered a month-over-month decline. The national average has fallen for five consecutive days and 17 of 19 days since this year's peak price, AAA added.

However, the price decline varies from state to state. Drivers in 38 states and Washington, D.C., pay less today than they did last Monday and those in 28 states pay less than one month ago.

In addition, gas prices in Indiana (11.7 cents), Ohio (9.5 cents), Kentucky (7.3 cents) and Michigan (7 cents) are each more than 5 cents higher than one week ago. These are also some of the same states that have seen the largest month-over-month declines. Prices in nine states and Washington, D.C., are at least 10 cents higher than one month ago, according to AAA.

The association does point out, however, that while the decrease at the pump differs by state, the year-over-year savings have been nearly universal. Motorists in every state, with the exception of North Dakota, pay less than the same day last year, led by nine states where prices have dropped by at least 20 cents and one state (Illinois) where the price is more than 30 cents lower.