Memorial Pediatric Operating Room Nurse Georganne Hamilton reaches to fuel her car Monday at the Save-A-Ton Citgo fuel stop at 5701 Highway 153 on Monday. "I'm here just because of the gas price," Hamilton said. "I hope it stays this way."Gasoline prices fell below $2 a gallon Monday at a number of gas stations in Hixson, Ooltewah, Middle Valley and Soddy-Daisy as falling oil prices continued to drive prices lower at the pump.
"I like [prices] going down, but it's one of those things," said Raymond Hahn, who was filling up at the Raceway on Highway 153 near U.S. 27. "They tease you a little, and then - boom, there it is [prices go back up]."
Kenny Patel uses an electronic sign remote to change his sign Monday at the Save-A-Ton Citgo fuel stop at 5701 Highway 153 on Monday. "Yesterday we went from $198.9 to $197.9," Patel said. "Two days ago it was $204.9."The average retail price of regular gas in Chattanooga fell another 5.9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.08 per gallon, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 170 gas outlets in Chattanooga.
The online gas price index listed multiple stations with prices below $2 a gallon Monday in Chattanooga. And a drive-by survey confirmed that all the gas stations on Highway 153 between U.S. 27 and Hixson Pike advertised regular gas at $1.97 on Monday afternoon.
"Much better to buy $1.97 than $2.97 or $3.12 or whatever," said Sheri Hixson, who filled up at the Mapco Mart at 5500 Highway 153, which was one of the stations selling regular gas for $1.97 a gallon.
Gasbuddy.com said average gas prices in Chattanooga have dropped about 26 cents a gallon in the past month and are about 99 cents per gallon below year-ago levels.
With oil falling below $39 a barrel Monday and the end of the summer travel season approaching, analysts expect gas prices to continue to decline for motorists.
Chattanooga gas prices, on average, were 50 cents per gallon less than the U.S. average. Gas prices in the Midwest have been kept higher by refinery problems in recent weeks, but prices are headed lower around the country.
"Gasoline price trends finally aligned last week across all areas of the country," said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst. "As we enter the final stretch of the summer driving season, autumn still looks to bring a big drop in gasoline prices. Crude oil last week touched under $40 a barrel for the first time since the recession, and this week could bring prices that stay under that key level."
Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at 423-757-6651 or tomarzu@timesfreepress.com.
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| Chattanooga Gas Prices provided by GasBuddy.com |