Gas price drops to accelerate from Labor Day through autumn

GasBuddy is reporting today that the second half of this year “represents a strong commitment that motorists will spend even less on gasoline this year than they did in 2014”.

The price drop is expected to continue well into the first quarter of 2016. According to gasbuddy.com, gas prices could start to dramatically drop this month, ending below $2 a gallon by December.

“We’re confident that our projections give consumers more than accuracy; we think they’ll help them identify some savings that should come in handy at Thanksgiving and Christmas”, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan said in a news release.

According to GasBuddy, demand slips in the autumn and winter after summer vacations and regional, national, and global supply is good.

The U.S. average price for a gallon of gas could be .98 per gallon by Christmas as well. Other factors are the switch to cheaper winter grade gasoline and the abundant supply of discount gasoline available.

Maine is not one of the states projected to see prices below $2, but should benefit from the continuing decline.

State gas prices last fell to less than $2 a gallon in late 2008 as the economy tanked in George W. Bush’s final days in the White House.

It’s what Gasbuddy.com is predicting the national average for gas could be around the holidays.

Since Alabama is already about 40 cents below the national average, it stands to reason that prices could dip much lower here. The Monmouth County average was $2.52, the Ocean County average was $2.49.

The lowest price in the Harrisburg remains at $2.46 a gallon at Costco, Lower Paxton Township; Exit 77 Travel Plaza in West Hanover Township; and Sam’s Club in Swatara Township.

Columbia reported the cheapest gas in the state at an average $2.25 a gallon.