Gas prices came down in the Nashville area this morning following a slight uptick in advance of the July 4 holiday. The average price of regular gas was $2.60 per gallon, down 3 pennies from a week ago, according to AAA. Gas prices were lower for the holiday weekend than expected and lower prices should continue in the weeks ahead, as concerns about the U.S. economy and a weakening Chinese economy sent oil prices lower, AAA said. “We’re going to see economic reports drive the price of crude again as we did in the beginning of the year,” said AAA spokeswoman Jessica Brady in a statement. “This is atypical for this time of year since we usually see retail gas prices hit their peak in July. Instead, consumers will see gas prices drop this week and the national average continue to fluctuate between $2.65 and $2.75.” The price of gasoline in the Nashville area is up from a year ago, when the average was $2.45 per gallon. Investor fears of a double-dip recession in Europe and the U.S. later this year after last year's contraction have weighed on stocks and commodities in recent weeks. A weaker than expected June jobs report on Friday added to concern the U.S. economic recovery could peter out once massive government spending stimulus ends. Oil prices fell below $72 a barrel Tuesday in Asia on investor concern global economic growth could slow in the second half and drag demand for crude down with it. -- The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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