For the first time in months, parts of Kentucky are experiencing gas prices lower than $3 per gallon.
During his Thursday “Team Kentucky” update, Governor Andy Beshear noted the reprieve at the pump is a welcome sight during inflationary times.
Specifically in west central Kentucky, gas prices opened up this week at $3.29 — nearly eight cents lower per gallon than last week.
This time last year, gas prices in this region averaged at $2.85 — still 44 cents cheaper than today’s prices. But the sharp curb down from this past summer’s all-time highs is more than noticeable on pocketbooks.
Paducah’s average price this week: $3.22. As was Owensboro’s. Covington: $3.38. Bowling Green’s: $3.31. Louisville: $3.52. In Hopkinsville, it’s $3.19. Elizabethtown, naturally, remains low at $3.11 per gallon.
Further analysis from AAA this week indicated that some of the cheapest gasoline prices in the state reside in Fulton, Graves, Calloway, Marshall, Christian, Todd, Logan and Simpson counties, while some of the most expensive right now comes from Ballard and Trigg counties.
Earlier this week, the national average price for a gallon of gas fell seven cents to $3.71 — prices that haven’t been observed since March. Reasons for the decline should include a lower cost for crude oil. Today’s national average is 26 cents less than a month ago, but still 54 cents more than a year ago.
Stock estimates indicate that if gasoline demand begins to subside, as it typically does post-Labor Day with the end of summer driving, pump prices could continue to decrease.
Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.