Gas prices expected to keep falling through holidays

Gas prices have fallen for 10 consecutive days, according to the AAA Motor Club. The average price for a gallon of gas in Ohio was $1.95, the AAA said. That’s 90 cents cheaper than the average last year and more than $2 cheaper than on May 4, 2011, when the average gallon was $4.16 in the state.

Analysts expect fuel prices to continue a yearlong downward trend in the next few weeks before the holiday season when motorists will travel to visit their family and friends. Because of those low prices the motor club predicted more than 1.9 million Ohioans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the holiday. This represents roughly a 1 percent increase from last year and the highest Thanksgiving travel since 2007.

Matthew Armbruster, president of Armbruster Florist Inc., said the drop in gas prices is saving his Middletown business about $200 a week in fuel costs. He said the florist, celebrating its 70th anniversary, typically has 2½ trucks delivering flowers every day. The drop in prices allows the business to recoup some of the expenses associated with delivery and not raise its flower costs, he said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Don Johnson was filling his vehicle’s gas tank at the UDF in Middletown. He called $1.76 a gallon “a very fair” price, and any price north of $2 “gouging.”

“This puts more money in my pocket and allows me to do other things instead of spending it on gas,” said Johnson, who is retired and on disability.

Eddie Scott said he drives around Middletown looking for the lowest prices. He drives a 1985 Chevy truck for work.

“I love it,” he said about the gas prices. “Now I can pay off some bills.”

Historically, gasoline demand tends to decline during the month of November, and with the autumn refinery maintenance season nearing completion, pump prices are expected to move lower to close out the year, barring any unanticipated outages or supply disruptions, analysts said.

Eleven states are posting averages below $2 per gallon, with motorists in South Carolina ($1.91) and Alabama ($1.92) paying the nation’s lowest averages, according to the AAA. The nation’s most expensive markets are located in states west of the Rockies, led by Hawaii ($2.86), California ($2.80), Nevada ($2.67), Washington ($2.52) and Oregon ($2.41).