Georgia Gas Falls to $3.41 as National Price Drops Below $4

ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia drivers are paying less at the pump for another week, and the national average has finally slipped under $4 a gallon.

AAA’s daily survey put Georgia’s average for regular unleaded at $3.41 on Thursday, down from $3.43 a day earlier, $3.54 a week ago and $3.81 a month ago. Prices are still well above where they were a year ago, when the state average sat near $2.81.

The U.S. average for regular dropped to $3.91 in AAA figures, after staying above $4 since July 20 in one of the longest stretches of high prices on record. A week ago it stood at $4.10.

Georgia keeps its edge over most of the country partly because of the state’s temporary suspension of the motor fuel tax, which runs through Nov. 30, just after Thanksgiving. The auto club’s latest weekly report warned that fuel markets can shift quickly and that current prices may not last through the holiday travel rush. At Thursday’s average, a 15-gallon fill-up of regular costs a Georgia driver a little more than $51, compared with about $59 at the national price.

Prices vary by region. Among metro areas tracked by AAA, Gainesville, Macon and Atlanta were the most expensive Thursday at about $3.45 to $3.46, while Albany, Catoosa-Dade-Walker and Warner Robins were the cheapest at roughly $3.24 to $3.26. Diesel remains costly, averaging about $5.57 statewide, below the record of about $6.35 set in September.

Ways to stretch each tank include comparing station prices before filling up, using fuel rewards programs and combining errands. Easing off the gas also helps, since fuel economy drops sharply at highway speeds above about 50 mph.

Filed under: Atlanta GA Business News