The Inter-Mountain photo by Edgar Kelley Consumers will be paying a little less at the pump this holiday weekend, as prices per gallon of gas have been dropping after last week’s surge. Go-Mart is one of several Elkins stores selling regular unleaded gasoline for $3.09 per gallon.

ELKINS — After consumers saw gas prices rise across the region last week, the cost has slowly decreased during the past few days as motorists will be paying less to travel this holiday weekend.

According to AAA, the average price for gasoline across West Virginia is five cents lower – at $3.11 per gallon – than it was just a week ago. Locally, in Elkins, Walmart had the lowest cost for regular unleaded in town Wednesday at $3.05 per gallon. Go-Mart, Speedway, Sheetz and Par Mar all were listed at $3.09 per gallon on Wednesday, while Kroger was selling regular unleaded for $3.14 per gallon.

Jim Garrity, AAA Director of Public Affairs, said the recent gas price trends can be attributed to what’s happening in the Middle East.

“In the immediate aftermath of what was happening between Israel and Iran, oil prices spiked,” Garrity said. “That’s a major area of the world for oil production and oil trade, and oil is a global commodity. So when you see things happen overseas it can have a ripple effect all the way over to the United States.”

Garritty said oil prices were around $75 a barrel last week, but have since fallen to the $65 range.

“Oil is 50 to 60%t of what consumers spend at the pump,” Garrity said. “So when it goes up and down you see a direct reflection at the pump. But the price of oil has come down since last week and prices have subsided. But it’s all eyes on the situation in the Middle East to see what happens next.”

Nationally, gas prices have fallen four cents during the past week to an average of $3.18 per gallon. The temporary spike occurred after the United States conducted airstrikes against Iran.

More than 61.6 million holiday travelers are expected to hit the road this Independence Day weekend.

“For consumers who are going out, depending where you are traveling, prices are roughly 20 to 40 cents cheaper than they were this time last year,” Garrity said. “So it’s going to be a little bit cheaper for most consumers than it was on Independence Day a year ago.”

The nation’s most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.62 per gallon), Hawaii ($4.47), Washington ($4.45), Oregon ($4.06), Nevada ($3.81) and Alaska ($3.74). Mississippi ($2.73), Oklahoma ($2.81), and Texas ($2.82) are the lowest. 

Morgantown ($3.26), Bridgeport ($3.25), and Weirton ($3.24) currently have the highest gas prices in the Mountain State, according to AAA.