Average prices for regular unleaded gasoline declined over the week ending Saturday, according to sources that track the numbers.
AAA recorded an average price Sunday of $2.36 in the state, three cents less than a week ago, but 38 cents higher than last year at the same time.
GasBuddy reported a more conservative drop of 1.6 cents per gallon, ending at a $2.34 average Sunday. In its survey, GasBuddy indicated the average is just over 26 cents higher than on the same day in 2016.
Officials with both organizations predicted an increase in prices as a result of the OPEC meeting on Thursday. OPEC, Russia and other oil producing countries are expected to decide whether or not to extend an agreement to reduce oil production levels by 1.8 million barrels a day, according to AAA.
"When oil prices rise, it becomes more expensive to produce gasoline," Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA - The Auto Club Group said. "Prices at the pump are poised for an increase of 3-5 cents, based on current fundamentals. However, the oil and gasoline markets are likely to be volatile this week, and prices could face additional upward pressure as we creep closer to the OPEC meeting."
Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, agreed with the prediction of higher prices in the short term but also said the OPEC gathering could impact prices into the future.
"OPEC's decision may reverberate at pumps in the months and year ahead, and while the decision is likely to be an extension of production cuts made at their meeting a year ago, it's certainly not yet guaranteed," DeHaan said. "Global oil inventories have already tightened noticeably in the last year and continuing such in the face of rising demand may spur oil prices even higher in the days, weeks and months ahead."
In Sunday numbers, Savannah had the most expensive average price in the state at $2.40 a gallon. The Catoosa, Dade and Walker county region had the lowest, at $2.26 per gallon, according to AAA.
The biggest decrease over the week was in Atlanta, according to GasBuddy. It was down 3.5 cents to $2.37 per gallon.
