At the Vicky Food Mart, Yolanda Sanford fills her car with a smile. “I’m glad gas prices are lower. It’s affordable,” Sanford said.CHATTANOOGAChattanooga average regular gas price per gallon:• Current: $2.63• One week ago: $2.68• One month ago: $3.06• One year ago: $3.07Source: AAACITY PRICESLowest average regular gas price per gallon.• 1. Chattanooga, TN: $2.62• 2. Greenville, SC: $2.64• 3. Fort Worth, TX: $2.65• 4. Richmond, VA: $2.65• 5. Dallas, TX: $2.65• 6. Spartanburg, SC: $2.66• 7. Myrtle Beach, SC: $2.67• 8. Memphis, TN: $2.69• 9. Lubbock, TX: $2.70• 10. Jackson, MS $2.70STATE PRICESLowest average regular gas price per gallon.• 1. South Carolina: $2.70• 2. Tennessee: $2.73• 3. Mississippi :$2.73• 4. Texas: $2.76• 5. Virginia: $2.76• 6. Alabama: $2.78• 7. New Jersey: $2.80• 8. Louisiana: $2.81• 9. Missouri: $2.81• 10. Arkansas: 2.81Source: GasBuddy.com
It’s a distinction that gives great returns — to pocketbooks and the bottom line at businesses.
Chattanooga on Monday had the lowest average regular gas price in the nation: $2.63 per gallon. Some gas stations posted prices as low as $2.50 per gallon along Shallowford and Hickory Valley roads. The last time prices were that low was August 2005, according to AAA.
Prices could go even lower as the month progresses, in time for Thanksgiving travel and ahead of the winter gift-giving holidays, oil industry experts said. That’s across the country, which has seen a drop in recent months.
“At a time when people can usually use extra cash, it’s good to see that gas prices are dropping,” said Nancy White, a spokeswoman for AAA, which tracks gas prices daily.