Georgia gas prices drop two cents

Gas prices crept lower in the southeastern United States this past week, leaving average Georgia gas prices two cents less at $2.76.
 
That's according to this week's fuel price report from AAA. The agency also said Gainesville still had one of the highest prices in the state with an average of $2.77.  Atlanta had the highest price at $2.82. Brunswick was third highest at $2.74.
 
The lowest prices were in Augusta-Aiken at $2.60, and Columbus and Catoosa-Dade-Walker both came in at $2.62.
 
"Strong demand pushed gas prices higher in some states last week, as families squeezed in one final vacation before the kids go back to school," said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA. "However, the most recent figures from the EIA show gasoline demand is beginning to slip, which relieves some of that upward pressure on prices at the pump.

"Traditionally, gas prices decline in the second half of the year, due to lower demand," Jenkins continued. "However, oil analysts forecast significant volatility in the oil market through the end of the year, leaving a big question mark for the long-term direction of prices at the pump."
 
GasBuddy.com reports prices in Georgia averaged $2.70 a gallon Sunday, still down two cents from last week. Including the change locally during the past week, prices yesterday were 50.8 cents per gallon higher than a year ago and are 1.4 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.
 
"Yet again, average gas prices have remained fairly quiet. This summer has been remarkably mum at pumps with most states seeing prices move in an uncharacteristically small summer range of 10-20 cents per gallon or less," said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "Oil prices continue to be range bound between $67 and around $73 per barrel as of late as competing factors weigh on oil prices at very similar times. Oil inventories have continued to decline, but gasoline inventories remain healthy, and with summer drawing to a close and gasoline demand set to step down, we may see additional relief coming barring any disruptions to the flow of oil or gasoline like a major hurricane."