The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline fell 1 cent overnight to $3.24, a low for the year. The price is still about a penny more than at this time last year.
Here is some more information for drivers as the Christmas holiday travel season picks up:
REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT:
Gas prices in the Rocky Mountain region are close to the national average. Utah is highest at an average of $3.27 a gallon, but that's down nearly 40 cents from a month ago. Wyoming is the least expensive at $3.14. That's 7 cents cheaper than this date a year earlier. The rest of the states: Colorado $3.18; Montana $3.22; and Idaho $3.25.
BIG CITY DRIVING:
If you must buy gas in a big U.S. city, be prepared to pay more than you would in a suburb. Some current average prices for major U.S. cities, according to the Energy Department: San Francisco $3.94; Los Angeles $3.87; New York City $3.70; Boston $3.62; and Chicago $3.56.
REMEMBER WHEN:
The national average for a gallon of regular was $3.23 on Christmas Day a year ago. Five years ago drivers paid $2.97 and 10 years ago the average price at the pump on the holiday was $1.41, according to Oil Price Information Service.
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