SEATTLE -- Drivers can enjoy some relief at the gas pump in this fall. A new study by GasBuddy.com predicts that U.S. drivers can expect to see an average national price in the $3.15 to $3.25 a gallon range.
The cost of crude oil is driving prices lower in addition to a less expensive winter blend of gasoline now on the market which is cheaper to produce.
In Washington state, the average price could be around $3.25 a gallon in November. Some analysts predict a few stations could post $3 a gallon, although AAA points out prices in Washington have not dipped to the $3 mark since fall 2010.
The price of gas Washington state remains among the highest in the nation, only behind Alaska, Hawaii and California.
One reason, according to Jennifer Cook with AAA, is the cost of crude oil. West Coast refineries are at a disadvantage by having to transport oil from other areas instead of mining it locally.
"The more they pay, the more drivers can feel it," said Cook. She also points out, that despite the price drop, the refining system is vulnerable.
"We don't have that many refineries on the West Coast. So if something goes wrong, whether it's a maintenance issue or a fire, we do tend to see prices go up significantly," she said.
