Pump prices drop in R.I., Mass.

By PBN Staff
Twitter: @ProvBusNews

PROVIDENCE – Gasoline prices in Rhode Island fell 6 cents this week after holding steady last week, according to AAA Southern New England.

The cost of self-serve, unleaded regular averaged $3.59 per gallon in the Ocean State – dropping 6 cents over last week and 12 over the last month – according to the trade group’s weekly survey of Rhode Island’s pump prices.

Rhode Island’s price is 24 cents greater than the $3.35 national average for a gallon of self-pump, regular unleaded.

AAA recommended consumers shop around for the best deal due to a 57 cent range in unleaded regular. Drivers could pay anywhere from $3.32 to $3.89 for a gallon of self-serve unleaded regular in the Ocean State.

This week, pump prices ranged from $3.89 per gallon for midgrade to $3.97 for premium unleaded and $4.12 for diesel. A year ago, gas in the Ocean State cost an average $3.39 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

Gas prices in Massachusetts fell 7 cents this week to $3.58 per gallon of self-serve unleaded, according to AAA.

Bay State gas prices ranged from $3.695 per gallon for midgrade unleaded to $3.81 for premium and $4.09 for diesel.

Pump prices in the Bay State have dropped 14 cents over the past month. A year ago at this time, the Massachusetts average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas was $3.28.

The average nationwide cost for regular gasoline fell 0.4 cents to $3.35 a gallon, the lowest average since July 11, said the AAA website. Pump prices reached a 2012 high of $3.94 on April 4.