AAA Survey: Gas Prices Drop 2 Cents To Start 2016

Gasoline prices in Massachusetts start the new year the same way last year ended, continuing to fall, according to AAA Northeast, which has an office in Framingham, off Route 9.

AAA’s January 4 survey of prices in Massachusetts finds self-serve, regular unleaded averaging $1.96 per gallon, two cents less than last week.

The Massachusetts price is three cents below the national average for regular unleaded of $1.99.

A year ago at this time, the average price in Massachusetts was 40 cents higher at $2.36.

The range in prices in the latest AAA survey for unleaded regular is 46 cents, from a low of $1.83 to a high of $2.29.

Year-End National Gas Price Report

• Drivers paid the second-cheapest gas prices in a decade in 2015.
• The national average price was $2.40 per gallon, 94 cents less than in 2014.
• AAA estimates that Americans saved more than $115 billion on gasoline in 2015 compared to 2014, which was an average of more than $550 per licensed driver.
• About 71 percent of U.S. stations are selling gas for less than $2 per gallon, and drivers can find at least one station selling gas for less than $2 in 47 states. More than 16,000 stations across the country are selling gas for less than $1.75 per gallon.
• Drivers may pay even less in 2016. AAA estimates the annual average price is likely to end up between $2.25 and $2.45 per gallon, which would be cheaper or at least comparable to the 2015 average of $2.40.

AAA Northeast is a not-for-profit auto club with 61 offices in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire and New York, providing more than 2 million local AAA members with travel, insurance, finance, and auto-related