Phila.-area gas prices retreat again
Another day, another 1-cent decrease at the gas pumps.
The average for a gallon of regular no-lead was down 1 cent overnight, to $2.67, in the five-county Philadelphia area, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. That's off the high for the year of $2.74, reached June 20.
South Jersey also saw its average decline 1 cent, to $2.43. That's off the year's high of $2.54, on June 20.
The national average was down by the same amount, to $2.58. The national average reached its year's high of $2.69 on June 18.
Today, 15 states - the same as yesterday - have a gas average at or below $2.50 a gallon, the auto club said.
At the diesel pumps, the Philly area was averaging $2.80, down 1 cent.
South Jersey's average was unchanged overnight, at $2.48.
The national diesel average was unchanged, at $2.61.
Meanwhile, oil prices steadied but stayed below $61 as traders looked for direction after sending the value of crude down 17 percent since last week.
Rising U.S. gasoline inventories suggested crude demand remains weak, fueling expectations that prices would resume their slide.
After recovering by more than a dollar in earlier trading, benchmark crude for August delivery was up 46 cents to $60.60 a barrel by afternoon electronic trading in Europe on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Wednesday, the contract fell more than 4 percent, or $2.79, to settle at $60.14.
Prices have dropped from an eight-month intraday high of $73.38 a barrel on June 30 on evidence that U.S. drivers, who typically hit the road more during the Independence Day holiday last week, are staying home in droves this summer.




