Here’s a little holiday cheer for your gas tanks.
Gas prices are dropping right before the busy holiday travel season begins on Dec. 22. And analysts expect pump prices to continue to fall.
Georgia’s average gas price of $3.18 fell 8 cents last week, according to analysts at AAA, The Auto Club Group.
Pump prices of $3 and below are sprouting up throughout metro Atlanta. For example, we found $2.96 at Kroger, 1745 Ga. SE and Flat Shoals Rd. in Conyers; $2.99 at QuikTrip, 8805 Tara Blvd. in Jonesboro; and $2.99 at Shell, 5260 US-78 & E Park Place Blvd., in Stone Mountain. Check here for gas prices in your local area.
Pump prices have steadily declined since Nov. 1 when the national average was $3.51. The national average is now $3.26. Prices nationally are forecast to fall even more as millions prepare to take their holiday road trip, said AAA spokeswoman Jessica Brady.
The Southeast will follow the same trend. On Nov. 1, regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.34 in the Southeast. Since then the average has dropped 20 cents to $3.14, Brady said.
“Although gas price averages are only a few cents shy of what motorists paid last year, prices are not expected to deter holiday travelers,” said Brady. “AAA forecasts more than 84 million Americans will hit the road for a holiday vacation this year and the good news is pump prices are expected to fall again this week.”
The national average price of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.26, 9 cents less than last week. Florida’s average of $3.27 went down 6 cents from last week. Like Georgia, Tennessee’s average price of $3.05 also fell 8 cents last week.
Here’s more good news for motorists who’ve had to dig deep for gas money all year.
Prices should be cheaper next year, according to forecasters.
Barring unexpected events like hurricanes or a conflict that disrupts oil supplies from the Middle East, OPIS chief oil analyst Tom Kloza said the nationwide price for gas should stay below $4 per gallon in 2013. The government is predicting $3.43 a gallon for next year, which would be the lowest price since 2010 when gas averaged $2.78 a gallon.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
