Metro Atlanta drivers planning on a Labor Day weekend road trip in two weeks will find gas prices about a dollar a gallon lower than they were a year ago.

The average price locally was $2.53 a gallon Friday, according to GasBuddy.com.

Prices are about a dollar-a-gallon lower than what they were a year ago, and that will translate to some real savings at the pump for those hitting the highway.

Even a 500-mile jaunt during the upcoming holiday, at 20 miles per gallon fuel consumption, would mean about $25 in savings over last Labor Day, when prices were around $3.50 a gallon.

Gas prices have fallen since Memorial Day, according to data provided by GasBuddy.com, after rising steadily from lows recorded in January. That’s a pattern that mirrors the national trend.

Drivers here and across the Southeast are faring relatively well compared to motorists across the country.

The Southeast generally has the lowest fares among the geographic regions, with prices around $2.50 a gallon. That’s roughly a quarter to a half-dollar less than the average price in the Midwest, and a dollar less than the average price in some parts of California.

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