Gas Prices Continue To Fall Even After Labor Day Weekend

Wow those were some low gas prices for the Labor Day weekend. And the good news continues today. Average retail gasoline prices in Yakima have fallen 7.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.81/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 91 gas outlets in Yakima. This compares with the national average that has fallen 6.1 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.39/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Yakima during the past week, prices yesterday were 100.2 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 26.3 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 20.2 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 103.7 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

"Not only did Labor Day weekend see millions of Americans take to the road and spend far less than they did last year at the pump, but a growing number of them were able to fill up at under $2/gallon for the summer's last hurrah," said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst. "Better than one in ten stations in the country now offer gasoline prices at $1.99/gal or less, and gas prices in 48 of the nation's 50 states fell in the run-up to the holiday itself, showing that holiday's aren't always a catalyst for price increases. The Midwest led the biggest decliners, again, and prices in some of these states now stand a staggering dollar per gallon lower than they were just last month after the BP refinery issue led to spikes, a stunning and quick reversal. As we begin to near the terminus for summer gasoline, I expect prices to continue moving lower, with our projections aiming at a sub-$2/gal average by Christmas- or perhaps even earlier."