As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, Tucson motorists are paying nearly 40 cents per gallon less for gas than a year ago, after prices here fell 3 cents this week, AAA Arizona says.
Meantime, Arizona’s average gas price flattened this week, while prices fell nationally despite near-record demand.
Tucson kept the state’s lowest-priced gas at $2.06 per gallon of regular on Thursday, down 3 cents in a week. A year ago the average price in Tucson was $2.43 per gallon.
The statewide average price of gas remained unchanged over a week at $2.23 per gallon of regular gas on Thursday, while the nationwide average price fell 4 cents to $2.32 per gallon.
Flagstaff had the state’s highest average at $2.41.
Unlike many recent years, gas supplies are keeping up with demand even though demand remains on track to set a new all-time high for the summer driving season, AAA said.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, AAA says gas prices are expected to keep falling nationwide and may start to drop statewide in Arizona, where the East Valley area of Phoenix, Prescott, Yuma, Scottsdale and Flagstaff all saw increases this week.
Some 1 million Arizonans — or 73 percent of holiday travelers — to plan a road trip for the July 4 holiday, according to AAA’s travel forecast.
