The average price at the pump statewide has dropped by more than 10 cents over the last 30 days and could continue falling
to around $3 a gallon by the end of this year, AAA Public Affairs Specialist Don Redman said Monday.
Redman said the statewide average is
$3.15 a gallon — down from last month’s average of $3.27 a gallon. The
Lake Charles metropolitan
area is averaging $3.12 for a gallon of gasoline.
Redman said the lower prices are
largely because the demand for gasoline typically drops in December. He
said January and
February are considered the “slowest periods of the year” for
gasoline demand. However, the average price for this past January
was around $3.15 a gallon, which was “higher than we’ve ever
seen.”
Another factor that has led to a drop in prices is that some refineries resumed operation after being shut down because of
Hurricane Isaac, Redman said.
“We have a very good inventory of gasoline in our market,” he said. “A lot of the infrastructure issues in California and
the Midwest have settled down.”
Redman said the national average for gasoline is $3.34 a gallon — up from $3.29 last year.
Redman said motorists should not get comfortable with the dropping prices because the market is very volatile.
“We’re in a very news-driven market,” he said. “Suddenly things could turn ugly in Syria or the Middle East, and we could
see prices come to a standstill.”
According to Louisianagasprices.com, the cheapest gas in Lake Charles on Monday was $2.97 a gallon at Sam’s Club on Nelson
Road. In Sulphur, the cheapest gas was $3.01 a gallon at the Circle K on La. 27 and La. 108.
The cheapest gas in Westlake was $3.07 a gallon at the Circle K on Guillory Street and Houston River Road. In Iowa, the cheapest
gas was at the Citgo on North Thompson Avenue at $2.99 a gallon.