National Gas Averages Continue to Drop

WASHINGTON, DC -- According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the nationwide average price of self-serve regular gasoline fell to $3.799 per gallon, which marks a 30-cent drop in one month.

While an encouraging development for motorists, AAA New York spokesman Robert Sinclair Jr. told Newsday, "I wouldn’t break out the champagne just yet. We’re still a dollar a gallon above where we were this time last year."

According to the AAA, the average for regular gasoline in New York City was $4.106 on Thursday. Alaska tops all states with regular selling for an average of $4.629 per gallon, followed by Hawaii ($4.444), Utah ($4.087), California ($4.084), Idaho ($4.040) and Washington ($4.028).

Sinclair said a leading reason prices are dropping in certain markets is due to Americans driving less. The Federal Highway Administration reported this week that Americans drove 12.2 billion fewer miles in June 2008 than they did in June 2007.

"Demand goes up, price goes up," Sinclair told the paper. "Demand goes down, price goes down. It’s that simple."
X
This ad will auto-close in 10 seconds