Cheaper gas will greet travelers this Labor Day weekend

Cheaper gas prices will greet travelers hitting the road this holiday weekend.

“At this point, it looks like motorists will enjoy relatively low gas prices during the Labor Day weekend,” said AAA spokeswoman Jessica Brady.

Georgia’s average of $3.46 for regular unleaded gasoline rose 2 cents from last week; Florida’s average of $3.50 fell 1 cent, while Tennessee’s average of $3.32 remains unchanged from last week. The national average price of is $3.54, also the same as last week.

Last year during this time, Tropical Storm Isaac drove gas prices close to $4 a gallon after Gulf refineries had to shut down, Brady noted.

Retail gas prices are expected to remain about 30 cents below last year’s Labor Day average of $3.83 nationally. That’s good news for the more than 34 million — up from 33 million last year — Americans who will travel during the weekend.

Gas prices have steadily dropped since mid July, with motorists in the Southeast paying some of the lowest prices in the nation, Brady said.

The cost for a barrel of oil closed last Friday at $106.42 on the NYMEX — $1.04 less than the week prior.

If you happen to be traveling to South Carolina, you’ll find the cheapest gas in the states in Charleston, where it cost $3.22 per gallon. Expect to find the most expensive gas in Long Island, NY at $3.89.