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Gas Prices Drop to Lowest Levels in Seven Years

Gas Prices
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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., (January 11, 2016) – Drivers in Hampton Roads are experiencing the lowest gas prices at the pump in seven years. The price for regular gas currently in Hampton Roads is $1.74 which is nine cents less than last month and 35 cents less than a year ago. The last time prices had been this low in January was in 2009 which was seven years ago. Following behind Hampton Roads Virginia’s gas price for regular unleaded at $1.78 which is seven cents less than a month ago and 27 cents less than a year ago.

Nationally, gas prices continue to drop to multi-year lows, with today’s average price of $1.97 per gallon representing the cheapest average price at the pump since March 23, 2009. Gas prices have fallen for 55 of the past 66 days for a total savings of 26 cents per gallon and should remain relatively low because there is more than enough oil and gasoline around the world to meet demand.  Drivers are saving three cents per gallon on the week, five cents per gallon on the month and 17 cents per gallon versus this same date last year.

Both oil benchmarks have posted losses for every day of trading in 2016, and as a result, closed out the week at lows unseen in more than a decade. Expectations that prices will continue to hover at multi-year lows are beginning to surface and market watchers are paying close attention to both China and the Middle East. Growth in China’s economy was once seen as a factor that could offset some of the market’s imbalance, though there is more uncertainty now that concerns over its economy continue to grow. Additionally, unlike historical trends where geopolitical instability in the Middle East has led to reductions in supply, the severing of diplomatic ties between Iran and other nations may lead to even more oil production within the region.

WTI closed out Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX down 11 cents, settling at $33.16 per barrel. This represents a loss of approximately 10 percent on the week and was the benchmark’s lowest settlement since February 9, 2004.

As part of North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA Tidewater Virginia provides its more than 325,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding AAA Tidewater Virginia has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.  For more information, visit AAA.com and follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/AAATidewaterVA or on Facebook at facebook.com/AAATidewaterVirginia

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AAA Tidewater Virginia is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the Tidewater Virginia region (All Hampton Roads cities, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg; Virginia's Eastern Shore; as well as the following counties: Greensville, Surry, Brunswick, Isle of Wight, Gloucester, Lancaster, Middlesex, Richmond County, Southampton, Sussex, Mecklenburg, James City County, York, Lunenburg, Essex, King & Queen, Mathews, Northumberland, and Westmoreland).