NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gas prices across Tennessee fell for the third week in a row, dropping nine cents on average. AAA - The Auto Club Group said the state average for a gallon of regular unleaded is now $3.71, which makes Tennessee the sixth least expensive market in the nation.
The price is 24 cents lower than a month ago but still $1.07 higher than a year ago, when the state average was about $2.63. At that gap, AAA said, drivers pay roughly $16 more to fill a 15-gallon tank. The average driver is now paying about $55 for a fill-up, compared with about $39 a year ago.
“Tennessee drivers are seeing some welcome relief at the pump, with prices down nearly a quarter since early October,” said Megan Cooper, a spokeswoman for AAA - The Auto Club Group. She added that, wherever prices go next, drivers can stretch each gallon by shopping around, maintaining their vehicles and driving in a fuel-efficient way.
Among the state’s metro markets, Memphis was the most expensive at $3.86 a gallon, followed by Jackson at $3.83 and Nashville at $3.70. Chattanooga was the cheapest at $3.50, followed by Clarksville at $3.51 and Cleveland at $3.58. Knoxville’s average was $3.70.
The state average was $3.72 on Sunday, $3.81 a week ago and $3.96 a month ago. Memphis was $4.06 a month ago, Nashville $3.96 and Chattanooga $3.80.
Nationally, the average for a gallon of regular fell 12 cents over the past week to $4.22. The Energy Information Administration reported that gasoline demand decreased from 8.98 million barrels per day to 8.38 million, that total domestic gasoline supply increased from 205.3 million barrels to 209.2 million, and that production decreased from 9.75 million barrels per day to 9.24 million.
Tennessee’s relatively low price comes even as national prices remain well above where they were a year ago. For West Tennessee drivers, the Jackson average of $3.83 is 12 cents above the statewide figure. AAA updates its averages daily, using data from up to 130,000 stations.