Gas Prices Dropping to Near $3 per gallon

Average retail gasoline prices in Yakima have fallen 10.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.50, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 91 gas outlets in Yakima.

Meantime, the national average has fallen 6 cents per gallon in the past week to $3.21, the gasoline price website reports.

Compared to this time last year, prices are 10.5 cents per gallon lower locally and 28.4 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 18 cents per gallon during the past month and stands 12.8 cents per gallon lower than this day a year ago.

GasBuddy.com analyst Patrick DeHaan expressed surprise at the precipitous drop.

I don't think I've seen such big drops in retail prices collectively since the recession of 2009. Last week, every single state saw its average gas price decline.

DeHaan noted that approximately 25 percent of gas retailers have fuel for less than $3 per gallon.