State's gas prices continue to plummet

Average retail gasoline prices in Nebraska have fallen 7.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.71 per gallon today, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 1,150 gas outlets in Nebraska.

This compares with the national average that has fallen 6.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.69 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Nebraska during the past week, prices yesterday were 37.7 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 37.0 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 25.4 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 57.2 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

“The amount of green on my screen is astounding, but there’s no grinch here,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst with GasBuddy. “We continue to see significant price drops in all 50 states – so large are the declines and so low the prices that Americans are now saving over a quarter billion dollars daily versus prices a year ago – or some 60 cents every gallon.

“Sixteen states saw average gas prices drop double digits per gallon over the last week and we saw $1.99 gas prices come back for the first time since 2010 in Texas and Oklahoma,” he added.

And while many motorists are asking how long the decline and low prices will last, DeHaan noted – “don’t worry, it’s not over yet.”