Low Gas Prices Lead to Heavy Holiday Travel

While prices have increased in the Great Lakes and continue to rise in California (prices there were almost $2.80 mid-day Thursday), GasBuddy predicts lower prices will hit pumps into the New Year as oil prices decline because of a weakening demand for petroleum. In Thomasville, Ga. the low prices were ranging from $1.91 to $1.99.

AAA Northeast is a not-for-profit auto club with 61 offices in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey providing more than 5.1 million local AAA members with travel, insurance, finance, and auto-related services.

The national average gas price is 2.53 a gallon, 70 cents less than past year. The maintenance reduces fuel production and typically leads to higher gas prices.

While most of the country gets a Christmas present of gasoline near $2 a gallon, Los Angeles drivers are getting coal in their stockings. However, at some point a few months down the road, partying like it’s $1.99 will come to an end and gas prices will begin to creep back up.

“I’m loving it, (as) long as it’s going down, I’m loving it, enjoying every bit of it”, said Howard Marshall who was traveling through Rockingham County from Maryland.

Many consider the low gas prices a Christmas bonus.

With the national average price of gas below $2 per gallon people are travelling more.

AAA said CT is averaging $2.18, which is 62 cents lower than this time a year ago.