Local gas prices continue to drop

Motorists throughout Virginia have seen prices at the pump drop steadily throughout the week, as much as three cents in some areas, outpacing the national trend, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Locally, the average price for one gallon of unleaded gas Dec. 10 was $2.24 – three cents per gallon lower than the previous week.

According to the Energy Information Agency, U.S. gasoline inventories rose for the fourth straight week pointing to possible low demand at the pump and an increase in gasoline production.

The local average was 23 cents per gallon lower than the national average of $2.47 per gallon.

Last year at this time, the average price of gas was $2.11 in Metro Richmond.

“Cheaper winter gas prices are being seen for the bulk of the country as gasoline demand declines,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Tammy Arnette. “AAA expects to see gas prices trend lower through the end of the year, especially if the trend of low demand and high production continues.”

AAA has a variety of resources to help motorists save on fuel, including:

• Fuel Price Finder (http://www.AAA.com/fuelfinder), which locates the lowest fuel price in your area;

• AAA Gas Cost Calculator (http://gasprices.aaa.com/aaa-gas-cost-calculator/), which helps budget travel expenses;

• TripTik Mobile (http://www.aaa.com/mobile), which  plots fuel prices along your travel route.