Utah motorists are getting an early Christmas gift in the form of lower gasoline prices.
The average price for a gallon of unleaded, regular, self-serve gasoline is $1.56, down 6 cents from a month ago, according to AAA Utah. However, that figure remains 12 cents higher than the December 2002 average.
"Lower gasoline prices are especially welcomed this time of year," said Rolayne Fairclough, AAA Utah spokeswoman. "The lower prices will help put extra money in people's wallets just in time for the holidays."
The national average is $1.47, 3 cents lower than last month but 10 cents higher than a year ago.
All Utah cities in the AAA survey experienced price drops. Ogden's average of $1.50 was the lowest and down 7 cents from a month ago. Salt Lake had a 6-cent decrease to $1.52. Provo also saw a 6-cent drop, to $1.56. St. George's average of $1.60 was 4 cents lower. Vernal's 2-cent decrease put the average at $1.61. Moab, as usual, had the highest average, $1.69, but that was down 5 cents.
AAA Utah surveys a limited number of communities across the state in its monthly gasoline price survey, and the resulting figures are averages. Individual service stationssell gas at both higher and lower prices, sometimes even in the same city block.
Utah's lower average followed the trend seen elsewhere in the West. Averages include Idaho's $1.61, down 4 cents from a month ago; Montana, $1.56, down 5 cents; Wyoming, $1.49, down 6 cents; Colorado, $1.43, down 9 cents; Arizona, $1.55, down 5 cents; Nevada, $1.66, down 2 cents; and California, $1.67, down 5 cents.
"Oil inventories are well-supplied, and lower seasonal demand are the primary reason for the lowering prices," Fairclough said. "Experts warn that the high price of crude oil could push gasoline prices up; so far, retail prices have not responded."
U.S. gasoline demand has fallen to 8.8 million barrels of finished motor gasoline a day for the week ending Dec. 5. That is down from 9 million barrels the previous week, according the U.S. Energy Information Administration.