Gas price continue to drive down

Average retail gasoline prices in Minnesota have fallen 2.7 cents in the past week, averaging $3.49 per gallon Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 2,856 gas outlets in Minnesota. This compares with the national average that has decreased 5 cents per gallon in the last week to to $3.52, according to gasoline price website MinnesotaGasPrices.com.

Prices in International Falls ranged from $3.47 to $3.52, according to the site.

Including the change in gas prices in Minnesota during the past week, prices Sunday were 22.2 cents per gallon lower compared to the same day one year ago and are 12.4 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 13.8 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 37 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

“The national average continues to be driven down as oil prices have fallen in recent weeks,” said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “The year on year savings is approaching 40 cents a gallon in some spots — not necessarily hitting the lottery, but every cent counts. As we get closer to Memorial Day there’s also the chance of an increase in pricing volatility thanks to refinery maintenance season that will be gradually coming to a close,” DeHaan said.

GasBuddy operates MinnesotaGasPrices.com and over 250 similar websites that track gasoline prices at more than 140,000 gasoline stations in the United States and Canada.