Motorists continue to enjoy relatively low gasoline prices though indications are the recent dip in prices at the pump may be leveling off.
The national average price of a gallon of self-serve regular today is $2.726, down more than two cents from last Friday but up a penny from yesterday, according to AAA.
The price of diesel fuel today is $2.994 a gallon, two cents lower than last week.
Gasoline prices have tracked oil prices lower in the last six weeks as stock and commodity prices skidded over concerns the Greek debt crisis might stall the global recovery. However, more recent indicators have been more bullish for the U.S. economy, at least, meaning consumers can soon expect to pay more at the pump.
On Thursday the U.S. Government reported a decline in U.S. stockpiles of both crude oil and gasoline. Gasoline inventories fell 2.65 million barrels to 219 million. Even before the report, oil prices were beginning to move higher.
"One oil price issue likely to linger in the minds of investors is the Obama administration's response to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, said Andrew Delmege, AAA's manager of regulatory affairs. "Late last week, President Obama announced his administration was placing a six month moratorium on new offshore drilling activities in the Gulf. Also, the Obama administration said it was stopping two planned offshore drilling sites off the coast of Alaska and canceling the lease sales for sites off the coast of Virginia and in the Western Gulf."
As a result, the falling prices at the pump may level off, or even move higher in the weeks ahead.
The states with the most expensive gasoline today are:
