BLUEFIELD — Drops in West Virginia’s gasoline price at the pump is helping spur some last minute out-of-state trips as well as bringing in more out-of-state visitors.
The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline has dropped for 12 days in a row, which is the longest consecutive decline since January, according to a press release by the American Automobile Association (AAA). Monday’s national average price was $2.71 per gallon, which was a nickel per gallon less than one week ago and seven cents less than one month ago. Most drivers were paying the lowest July prices since 2009 and were saving 82 cents per gallon at the pump compared to a year ago.
The average price Monday for gas in West Virginia was $2.68 a gallon, 6 cents less than a week ago, 14 cents less than a month ago and 94 cents less than a year ago, AAA officials said.
West Virginia was seventh out of the 10 states with the biggest drops in gasoline prices. The biggest drop was seen in Ohio where prices dropped 17 cents to $2.46, according to the AAA.
Lower gasoline prices could be persuading more people to travel, a local AAA official said. In neighboring Bluefield,Va. gas prices were approximately $2.29 cents a gallon as of Monday.
“What we’re seeing is last minute type decisions being made…
