AAA: Statewide gas price average drops below $3 a gallon

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — As summertime travel demand begins to drop, gas prices are doing the same all over Texas.

Over the last week, San Antonio has seen a drop of 12 cents in the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded. This week’s mark of $2.86 is a bit lighter on the wallet than last week’s average of $2.98.

The statewide gas price average in Texas is $2.99 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel, according to AAA. That price is five cents less than on this day last week and is 47 cents less per gallon compared to this day last year.

“Texans planning Labor Day road trips will be paying less at the pump than last year,” said AAA Texas Representative Doug Shupe. “AAA Texas encourages drivers to save even more on fuel costs by packing all luggage inside the vehicle rather than using overhead luggage racks, obey speed limits and make sure tires are properly inflated before hitting the road.”

Of the major metropolitan areas surveyed in Texas, drivers in the Brownsville-Harlingen and Laredo metro areas are paying the most on average at $3.05 per gallon while drivers in Lubbock are paying the least at $2.78 per gallon.

The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.38, which is six cents less when compared to this day last week and 47 cents less per gallon when compared to this day last year.

This is the first time the statewide average dropped below $3 since March.

Oil prices have dropped for five days in a row due to concerns about worldwide demand, wiping out most of its gains for the year. WTI crude prices are hovering around $72 a barrel.