Average gas prices falling fast

CAMARILLO, Calif. — U.S. retail gas prices continue their downward trend, dropping nearly 15 cents a gallon in the past two weeks, according to a survey released Sunday.

Utah gas prices have also dropped but still remain above the national average.

The national average for self-serve regular unleaded was about $2.28 on Oct. 6, down from about $2.42 two weeks earlier, according to the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations across the country.

Midgrade prices averaged $2.39 a gallon while premium cost $2.50.

Gas prices peaked Aug. 11 at $3.02 and have dropped nearly 75 cents since then.

The lowest average price in the survey was in Des Moines, Iowa, at $2.03 a gallon for regular unleaded. The highest was in Honolulu at $2.91.

In Utah, AAA reported the average cost for self-serve regular unleaded on Sunday was $2.60 per gallon statewide, down 36 cents from $2.96 a month ago. That average price also had dropped a full cent from Saturday. The state average a year ago Sunday was $2.84.

In the Salt Lake City-Ogden metropolitan area, according to AAA, Sunday's average price for self-serve regular unleaded was $2.55 per gallon, down from $2.91 a month ago and $2.78 last year.

In Provo-Orem, Sunday's average for unleaded regular was $2.59 a gallon, down from $2.94 a month before, according to AAA.

According to UtahGasPrices.com, the least expensive unleaded regular gasoline available in the state Sunday could be purchased for $2.39 per gallon at the Maverik on 1500 S. Main in Bountiful. Two Costco stores and an Albertsons grocery, all in Salt Lake County, were selling unleaded for $2.40 per gallon, the Web site reported.

According to Flying J's Web site, its service centers in Draper, North Salt Lake and St. George were selling unleaded regular for $2.49 per gallon.

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Contributing: Zack Van Eyck