Gas Pump in Des Moines
Gas prices have dipped below $3 a gallon in some parts of the state as many Iowans prepare to hit the road for the Christmas holiday weekend. AAA reports the average price in Iowa for regular unleaded fuel stands at $3.12 a gallon.
AAA spokesperson Gail Weinholzer says Iowa’s prices have been dropping, for the most part, since hitting $3.92 a gallon early this summer. “We peaked out this year right around May first and we’ve been having a pretty steady decline since then,” Weinholzer said. “We are experiencing the lowest gas prices we’ve had in the last year. In fact, a year ago today the prices (averaged) $2.92.”
Iowa’s current gas prices are roughly a dime a gallon cheaper than the national average. Motorists may want to consider fueling up now, rather than wait for the weekend, but Weinholzer said it probably won’t matter.
“I don’t know that we’ll see a significant increase between now and the weekend. I think prices will hover where they are into the new year,” Weinholzer said. Many gas stations in the Des Moines area are currently pricing regular unleaded fuel at $2.95 a gallon.
AAA estimates 100 million Americans will be traveling somewhere between December 23 and January 2, with most people doing so via highways and interstates.