AAA: R.I. gas prices fall 4¢ in second week of declines

PROVIDENCE – “Low wintertime demand for gasoline has helped push the price of fuel in Rhode Island down for the second straight week,” according to AAA Southern Rhode Island.
AAA’s Jan. 21 survey of local stations found the average self-serve price for regular unleaded was $3.079 per gallon, 4 cents less than in the Jan. 14 survey and 6 cents less than on Jan. 7, though still 72 cents above the year-ago average of $2.359.
Nationwide this week, the average self-service price for unleaded regular plunged 10 cents to $3.019, or 6 cents below the average price in the Ocean State.
The range in prices for self-service regular at local stations widened to 22 cents, from a low of $2.969 to a high of $3.2189, the nonprofit auto club found. Similar ranges were seen for other grades of fuel, which had average self-serve prices this week of $3.209 for midgrade unleaded, $3.329 for premium unleaded and $3.559 for diesel.
“Even during very cold weather, warming up your car for a minute or two is all that is necessary,” AAA noted, offering this seasonal advice: “Don’t race a cold engine to warm it up, or allow it to idle for extended time. And avoid rapid acceleration until the engine temperature is in the normal range.”
To find the most up-to-date self-service and full-service gas prices in a given area, go to www.AAA.com and click on Gas Saving Tips & Tools.