Gasoline consumption dropped for the fifth week in a row, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), and so did the prices. Many discounters in the 'Boro have started the week with regular gas selling for $2.94 per gallon. 

After the price for a barrel of oil jumped nearly $7, it moved lower when the EIA reported gasoline inventories rose the most in 11 months during the first week of December. Total fuel demand is down 7 percent; the least since October.

"Drivers should see gas prices move lower this week. However, the decrease may be fleeting, since the Christmas holiday is next week," said Jessica Brady, AAA spokeswoman, The Auto Club Group. "A few weeks ago, it looked like Thanksgiving travelers would pay some of the lowest pump prices of the year. Instead, millions of motorists watched gas prices spike.

“It’s not likely gas prices will jump as high as they did before Thanksgiving, but they may gain back any losses made during the two weeks prior to Christmas.”

 
The national average for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.23, 3-cents less than last week. Florida's average of $3.39 and Georgia’s average of $3.19 both fell 4 cents from last week. Tennessee's average of $3.08 decreased 5 cents from last week. Here in Murfreesboro, some discounters are selling regular gas for $2.94 per gallon. We forget that it dipped to this range the same time last month, and has been as high as $3.49 this past July. Until there is an evening of gas prices, the economy will be in turmoil.