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.By the numbers• $2.81: Average U.S. price per gallon of gas on Monday, down 26 cents from a month ago and 46 cents cheaper than a year ago• $2.50: Average Chattanooga price per gallon of gas on Monday, down 20 cents from a month ago and 62 cents cheaper than a year ago• $2.39: Cheapest per gallon gas price in Chattanooga on Monday at Citgo on Wilcox Boulevard, Speedway on Lee Highway and Shell on Lee HighwaySources: AAA Fuel Gauge Survey, Gasbuddy.com
As a foster parent coordinator, Kennith Starnes typically drives his van from 300 to 600 miles a week.
Making those trips is anywhere from $10 to $20 cheaper this week than it was a year ago, thanks to the lowest gas prices in Chattanooga in more than four years.
“It’s much better for people who travel a lot like me,” Starnes said while waiting to fill his 18-gallon tank at Sam’s Club in Brainerd. “I just hope it continues.”
For the past six months, the trend downward has continued.