Gas prices began the week under the $3.50-a-gallon mark at some stations in the northern suburbs, while the area's average price reported by atlantagasprices.com was $3.68.
That’s up a 4 cents from Sunday’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded, but 22 cents lower than the price being reported a month ago by the website, which tracks gas prices around the city and state.
The website reported several stations in the Acworth area selling gas Monday for $3.45 a gallon, while the price was $3.49 at a couple of stations in Snellville and Tucker.
The metro area’s most expensive gas was $4.09 at a Chevron in Marietta.
The statewide average Monday was $3.64, with numerous stations in Warner Robins selling a gallon of unleaded for $3.33.
The recent downward price trend has apparently infused consumers with some optimism.
In a recent survey of consumer sentiment and gas prices by Kelley Blue Book, new and used car shoppers said they expected gas prices to drop during the next 30 days, a switch from recent months.
For several consecutive months, consumers surveyed indicated that they thought gas prices would continue to rise, but in the May survey, 52 percent said they thought prices would either stay the same or go down.
In that same survey, the number of respondents saying that gas prices had changed their minds about vehicles they were considering purchasing decreased to 30 percent from 35 percent in April.
"Prices at the pump have halted their steep rise and now gas prices are slowly going down in many parts of the country, and the latest kbb.com survey results show that car shoppers are taking note," said Jack R. Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book.
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