Gas prices expected to continue to fall

UNDATED - Gasoline prices, which have dropped by about six cents a gallon in Gainesville the past week, are expected to continue to decline this week.

The decline in Gainesville is in line with the state average of 5.8 cents a gallon, 5.2 in Florida and 5.1 in Tennessee, according to AAA Auto Club South.

Most regular, unleaded in Gainesville was selling for around $2.96 early Monday. Just a month ago, we were reporting that the price in Gainesville had moved above $3. Elsewhere in northeast Georgia, according to georgiagasprices.com, it was selling for $2.93 in Commerce and $3 in Young Harris.

According to the Web site, the most expensive gasoline in the region - and anywhere in the state - can found in Toccoa and Winder... where some places are selling regular, unleaded for $3.17 and $3.14 a gallon respectively.

Randy Bly, Director of Community Relations for AAA Auto Club South, says recent "global and domestic market information - barring any unforeseen problems - will likely keep those gasoline prices dropping. Fears that powerful Cyclone Gonu would damage oil infrastructure in the Gulf of Oman are now unwarranted since the storm missed the area and has now largely dissipated."

Bly added "a report from the U.S. Department of Energy last week indicates another week of increased gasoline inventory. This is perhaps the best news of all.... an indication that refineries in the U.S. are finally making some headway in building gasoline supplies."