In a non-traditional pattern, gasoline prices continue to fall as the summer season inches forward.
The summer months and the July 4th weekend are usually a time where the cost of gasoline rises along with the temperatures.
That's not the case this year. The cost for a gallon of regular unleaded has declined another nickel or so the past week and is down more than 20 cents in the past month.
Nationwide, the Lundberg Survey reports the average cost for a gallon of unleaded regular is now at $3.63. That's a decline of 11 cents in the past two weeks.
In California, the average price is now $3.82. That's about 8 cents lower than a week ago and 24 cents less than last month.
The typical price in the East Bay is also hovering right around $3.82, according to a California State Automobile Association website. That's 7 cents lower than a week ago and 24 cents less than a month ago. A year ago, however, the price was $3.16 a gallon.
Experts say the recent downward march at the fuel pumps will continue, at least for awhile.
In Walnut Creek, the prices listed on mapquest's gasoline website range from $3.83 to $3.89. The cheapest listed is for the Chevron station on Main Street. The highest is the Chevron station on Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
The Valero station at Ygnacio Valley Road and Oak Grove Road is selling unleaded regular for $3.85 a gallon.
On Monday afternoon, Carlos Ruiz and Armando Garcia were filling up their van. The Pittsburg residents work for WCI/GC Commercial Construction, so they drive a lot.
Ruiz said a year ago, $40 filled up his Nissan truck with some change to spare. A month ago, that $40 would get him only three-fourths of a tank. Now, prices have fallen enough so $40 will top off his tank again.
"I didn't want to go to the gas station last month. Now, I don't mind," Ruiz said.s
Meanwhile, Livermore is seeing a wide array of prices. On the site gasbuddy.com, the four lowest stations in the East Bay are from Livermore.
The cheapest is Costco at $3.48 for a gallon of regular unleaded. The Gas & Shop on North Vasco Road is listed at $3.49 as is the Safeway on First Street and the Quik Stop on North Vasco Road.
The Arco station on San Ramon Valley Boulevard in Danville is listed on gasbuddy.com as selling unleaded regular for $3.65 a gallon.
Castro Valley continues to have relatively inexpensive fuel. The price range there on the mapquest site is from $3.69 to $3.79 a gallon.
