Finally, gas prices dropping again in Chattanooga area

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – This is the time of year when gas prices are supposed to be falling.

But then we had the Colonial pipeline leak, Hurricane Matthew shortages and a surprise jump in oil prices.

They all have kept prices up in our area.

But last week, GasBuddy.com reports a drop of 2.4 cents a gallon at the pumps in Chattanooga, for an average price of $2.05.

That matches the national average drop for the week.

Gas is once again cheaper in Chattanooga than at our neighbors in Knoxville, Nashville, Huntsville and Atlanta.

“October is a time we all expect gas prices to decline. Looking at the change in the U.S. average price for Octobers from 2015 to 2012, it’s dropped from Oct 1 to Oct. 31 by 12, 34, 11 and 26 cents respectively,” said Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. “That’s an average decrease of 20 cents per gallon during the last four Octobers.”

“But this month has proven to be an exception with the national average still a few cents higher than where it was on Oct. 1 at $2.22. While the price increase of crude oil has stalled the expected price decrease for retail gasoline, problems at major refineries in IN, TX, LA and CA have adversely impacted supply as well. The most recent EIA report shows U.S. refinery output at just 85.5%, the lowest level since January 22, 2015,” Laskoski noted.

The cheapest prices this morning in the Chattanooga area are once again on Signal Mountain Boulevard in the Mountain Creek area.

Several stations have $1.92 prices there.

In Cleveland, the best prices now are at the Murphy USA on Dalton Pike and Raceway on Westland Drive which both have $1.98.

The most expensive gas in our area now are in these counties:

$2.31 Cherokee, NC
$2.21 Dade, GA
$2.17 Walker, GA
$2.16 Grundy, TN
$2.15 Whitfield, GA