Average retail gasoline prices in Maine have fallen 9.9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.39 per gallon Sunday.

This compares with the national average that has fallen 12.8 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.47 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com, which surveys 1,228 gas outlets every day in Maine.

Gas prices Sunday were 109.8 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 27.1 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 19.5 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 96.4 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

“Nationally, gas prices saw their largest weekly drop of the year,” said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst. “Prices moved lower in all but one state, Utah, with plunges at the pump throughout the Great Lakes as a result of BP’s Whiting, Indiana, refinery coming back online. The national average now stands at its lowest point since April, a fitting way to close out the summer driving season with Labor Day approaching. While oil prices rallied late last week, I don’t yet expect it to impact pump prices, as they still have some catching up to do with the drop in crude oil prices. Since June 30, oil prices have fallen 23 percent while retail gasoline prices have fallen about half that amount, so gasoline prices will move lower again this week,” DeHaan said.

Copy the Story Link