After months of prices inching closer to $4 per gallon, the cost of regular gasoline has nally dropped below $3 a gallon.
As of Oct. 5, the cost of regular unleaded gas in Monroe dropped to $2.99 a gallon at several local stations. Various factors have been affecting the price of gasoline, but the main driving force for the price is oil. Oil prices have surged heavily in recent years, reaching a record high in August of 2008 at $147 a barrel. When oil hit that record high, the average price of gas was also at an all-time high of $4.11 per gallon. Recently, oil has been declining in value due to poor economic conditions around the world, but reduced oil prices are a relief to some students.
“I get super unleaded for my car and it’s a little better now,” said Logan Thibodeaux, a pharmacy P3 from Opelousas, La. “It was much worse a while back, but to be honest, I don’t pay very close attention, and I usually always go fill at the same place.”
Although prices at the pump are slowly decreasing, every cent saved matters. To help drivers save on the fuel costs of a vehicle, AAA recommends the following:
- Check the car’s fluids including engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid and steering fluid.
- For maximum performance and efficiency, inspect the filter at every oil change and replace as needed.
- Inspect all belts at every oil change, and replace when you spot signs of wear such as glazing or cracking.
- Inspect hoses at every oil change and repair or replace any that show signs of wear or leakage.
- Inspect tires, and check inflation pressure at least once a month.
If that still is not enough, drivers can check a website called gasbuddy.com. The site is basically a Wikipedia for gas prices. Visitors of the site can type in their zip code, and see most of the prices at gas stations in the area as well as updated prices for the stations.
In other news, diesel still remains near $3.70 per gallon.
