Gas prices down in Merced County heading into Labor Day weekend

The average cost for a gallon of gas during the Labor Day weekend is expected to dip to a low that hasn’t been seen since 2004, according to AAA.

At an average of $3.35 a gallon, California ranks behind only Alaska as the state with the highest average price for gas, AAA reported on Monday. That’s 41 cents cheaper per gallon than a month ago.

In the Merced area, more than a dozen gas stations were selling gas Monday for less than the statewide average, according to Gasbuddy.com. Adelia Carpenter, 44, of Merced stopped by one of those stations to put a few gallons into the family SUV on Monday.

She said she typically visits a particular station in town to buy gas, because the prices are reasonable. “I keep track and check the bill to make sure it’s competitive,” she said.

To try to bring that bill down, she said, the family is looking to sell the gas-guzzling SUV.

The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline has fallen for 14 consecutive days for a total of 20 cents per gallon.

The average price of $2.47 per gallon marks a savings of 12 cents per gallon compared with a week ago and 18 cents per gallon less than one month ago. Drivers nationwide continue to see relatively low prices of crude oil with an average about 96 cents per gallon cheaper than a year ago.

Despite the persistence of some regional refinery issues, average U.S. gas prices are falling at the fastest rates since December, according to AAA.

A refinery in Indiana whose outage moved prices up in the Midwest several weeks ago, has resumed production. The East Coast is facing its own production challenges with reports that a refinery in New Jersey is operating at reduced rates.

Another refinery in Delaware shut down its fluid catalytic cracking unit last week due to a fire. The East Coast issues have yet to significantly impact prices in the region as supply continues to outpace demand, AAA reported.

Barring any major supply disruptions, AAA said, consumers remain poised to pay the lowest national average for the holiday weekend in 11 years.

This story was originally published August 31, 2015 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Gas prices down in Merced County heading into Labor Day weekend."