Gas prices drop; oil goes up

Gas prices in the region fell sharply over the weekend, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

The average for a gallon of regular no-lead was down 7 cents, to $2.39, in the five-county Philadelphia area; that's a 90-cent decrease in one month.

The average also fell 7 cents, to $2.12, in South Jersey; that's an 89-cent drop in one month.

The 7-cent decline also was reflected at the national level; the national average today was $2.24, or $1.05 less than a month ago.

Missouri, Oklahoma and Ohio now have a state average below $2 for a gallon of regular, the auto club said.

Diesel prices continued their decline: down 4 cents over the weekend, to $3.39, in the Philly area; down 7 cents, to $3.06, in South Jersey; and down 7 cents, to $3.10, for the national average.

Oil prices jumped above $63 a barrel Monday in Asia as regional stock markets rallied on China's economic stimulus plan, which could underpin demand for crude. A barrel of light sweet crude rose $3.10 to $64.14 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.