Gas Prices Continues to Fall, Salem Prices Nearly Lowest in State

Gasoline prices in Massachusetts continue to drop and are down 6 cents from last week, according to AAA Southern New England.

The drops mirrors a national downward trend, the AAA said. Prices have dropped 17 cents per gallon in the past month.

The drop comes even as there are high-profile conflicts in oil-producing countries overseas and declining domestic refinery production, according to AAA.

The average price for self-serve, regular unleaded gas statewide on Tuesday was $3.50 per gallon, down six cents from last week. A year ago at this time the Massachusetts average price was 16 cents higher at $3.66, according to AAA.

The Massachusetts average is 3 cents more than the national average for self serve unleaded of $3.47.

In Massachusetts, the average price for self-serve midgrade unleaded this week is $3.69 and self-serve premium unleaded is $3.82. The average for self-serve diesel is $3.90 per gallon.

The range in prices in the latest AAA survey for unleaded regular in Massachusetts is 62 cents, from a low of $3.27 to a high of $3.89.

Gas on the North Shore can be found close to the lower end of the range,according to Gas Buddy. Regular unleaded was selling for $3.29 per gallon at three places in Salem on Tuesday - Hess on Derby Street, Prime on Lafayette Street and Global on Canal Street.