DAYTONA BEACH — Motorists here are gradually feeling less pain at the pump as fuel prices dipped again overnight both here as well as the rest of Florida to extend the streak of steady declines for the 10th week in a row.

On Monday morning, the Circle K station on the corner of State Road 415 and Doyle Road in Osteen was selling regular gasoline for $3.24 a gallon.

That did not quell the anger of Osteen residents Louise and Leo at the still-high gas prices. A year ago, the average price from regular gasoline in Volusia County was $2.95 a gallon.

"It's still ridiculous," said Leo, while his wife chimed in, "I'm on Social Security. Do you think I'm impressed?" The couple, who stopped by the Circle K to refuel their car, declined to give their last name.

Gas prices level off: Here's who has the cheapest gas in Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns.

AAA: Find the lowest average gas prices in Florida

The average price for regular gasoline for the Daytona Beach metro area, which includes all of Volusia and Flagler counties, now stands at $3.50 a gallon, down 11 cents from a week ago and down $1.39 from June 13 when fuel prices here hit an all-time high.

The statewide average price for regular gasoline in Florida on Monday fell to $3.52 a gallon, down 11 cents from a week ago and $1.37 from the record high also set on June 13.

Nationally, the average price for regular gasoline dipped to $3.90 a gallon, down 5 cents from a week ago and down $1.11 from the all-time high recorded on June 14, according to AAA Auto Club.

"Gas prices are still falling, but not quite as fast as they did in recent weeks," wrote Mark Jenkins, the Tampa-based spokesman for AAA Auto Club, in his weekly fuel price update report on Monday. "The state average was previously declining at a rate of 15-17 cents per week. Last week, however, the state average dropped 11 cents."

"This could be a sign that pump prices could soon begin to level out. Oil prices are currently trading at levels we saw in February, before Russia invaded Ukraine," he continued. "During that time, the state average was in the $3.40s, which could be where pump prices eventually plateau."

AAA reports gas price changes for metro areas based on its comprehensive survey of the final credit card purchases for fuel each night at gas stations throughout the country.

Gas prices: It's all about global supply and demand

Gas prices in the Daytona Beach area rose above $4 a gallon on average for the first time in more than a decade in early March amid growing concerns about a shortage of global fuel supplies in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine which began Feb. 24.

The United States as well as a number of other countries immediately issued sanctions on Russia to protest the invasion, including a ban on imports. Russia is the world's third-largest producer of oil and petroleum products.

After seeing fuel prices peak globally in June, both wholesale crude oil prices as well as retail gas prices have slowly, but steadily declined thanks to a combination of increased oil production by the United States, the world's largest producer, as well as other nations, combined with a decline in global consumer demand.

Renewed lockdown measures in China because of a surge in COVID-19 coronavirus cases there as well as growing concerns about a recession that may or may not have already begun in the United States are contributing factors to the decrease in consumer demand for fuel.

The Energy Information Administration on Aug. 17 reported that global production of liquid fuels fell below consumption levels in the second quarter. It is now exceeding consumption levels and is expected to remain that way for at least the remainder of 2022.

"When production is more than consumption, prices generally decline," the EIA report stated.

Patrick DeHaan, the Chicago-based head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.com, wrote in his weekly fuel price update report on Monday that gasoline isn't the only fuel that is dropping in price.

"In addition to falling gasoline prices, the average price of diesel has fallen below $5 per gallon for the first time since March, likely helping to cool off aggressive inflation numbers," he wrote.

Motorists could see further declines in prices at the pump this fall when U.S. refineries begin their yearly switch from producing less-emissions-causing, but more expensive summer blend fuels to less costly winter blends.

Of course, that's only if the Gulf region can avoid a direct hit from another hurricane that could cause a shutdown of oil refineries there.

"Thus far, Mother Nature has spared us from disruptions from hurricanes, but that remains a wildcard as we head into the peak of hurricane season," DeHaan wrote.

LOOKING BACK: Gas prices hit all-time record highs

GAS PRICES EXPLAINED: Why Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused the global surge in fuel prices

RECORD QUARTER: Rising fuel prices boosted second-quarter earnings big-time for U.S. oil companies

Where to find the cheapest gas

GasBuddy is a mobile app that reports fuel price changes at individual stations based on motorists' reports. Prices can change multiple times a day, which may not always be recorded on the popular app. Its reported prices are also subject to the accuracy of the updates provided by motorists.

With those caveats in mind, here are the stations locally offering the lowest gas prices as of Monday morning, according to GasBuddy:

In Volusia County, the cheapest stations as of Monday morning were the Circle K at 320 State Road 415 in Osteen, which was selling regular gasoline for $3.24 a gallon, followed by the Shell/Circle K at 1380 Howland and Courtland boulevards and Walmart at 105 Howland Blvd. in Deltona, where the price was $3.26 a gallon.

In Flagler County, two stations were selling regular gasoline for $3.49 a gallon: the Hess at 6701 S. U.S. 1 in Bunnell and the RaceTrac at 5893 State Road 100 East (and Seminole Woods Boulevard) in Palm Coast.

A little further to the north in St. Johns County, five stations in St. Augustine were selling regular gasoline on Monday for $3.47 a gallon: the members-only Costco station just west of the Interstate 95/World Commerce Parkway interchange, the Mobil at 2330 State Road 16 (and Prime Outlets Boulevard), the Wawa at 222 State Road 16 (and Outlet Mall Boulevard), the Circle K at 215 State Road 16 (and Masters Drive), and the RaceTrac at 2711 State Road 16 (and Toms Road).

Where gas prices currently stand

Average price for a gallon of regular gasoline:

DAYTONA BEACH

Monday: $3.502

Sunday: $3.508

Week Ago: $3.615

Month Ago: $4.039

Year Ago: $2.952

Highest Recorded Average Price: $4.895 (June 13, 2022)

Previous Record Average Price (prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine): $4.117 (July 17, 2008)

FLORIDA

Monday: $3.528

Sunday: $3.536

Week Ago: $3.641

Month Ago: $4.146

Year Ago: $2.979

Highest Recorded Average Price: $4.891 (June 13, 2022)

Previous Record Average Price (prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine): $4.079 (July 16, 2008)

SOURCE: AAA Auto Club

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona gas prices dropped in 10th straight week locally, rest of Florida