"We've seen a 3 percent increase this summer in people calling us who run out of fuel," she says. "That's happening (at AAA offices) everywhere. People are just straining to use the last drop before they fill up."

But there is good news. Not only is the price of gas declining — the current national unleaded average of $3.76 is 35 cents below the high of $4.11 established just a month ago on July 17, while Utah has gone down 17 cents from its high of $4.22 on July 18 — but it is projected to continue declining, at least for the short term.

"Projections show that the price should go down to as low as $3.65 later this fall," says Fairclough, providing the price of crude and demand both continue to decline. And it could drop lower than that by winter.

That means we'll hit $3.50 or lower here in the Beehive State when we get around to filling up the tanks in the snowblowers.

If not, get the governor back on the phone.

---

Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.