Low Modesto gas prices could continue as summer nears

Drivers in California continue to pay the nation’s highest averages for retail gasoline, but AAA officials say gas prices could remain relatively steady even as more travelers are expected to opt for a road trip this summer.

The state’s average on Sunday was at $2.79 per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. Prices in the Modesto area, however, are much lower, with the lowest at $2.37 per gallon at Arco and Costco gas stations in Modesto, according to modestogasprices.com.

The average price per gallon in the Modesto area was at $2.62, slightly higher than a month ago but still nearly 90 cents less than the average a year ago.

The national average had been climbing in the past month but experienced a slight drop early last week to $2.21 per gallon. AAA officials say it’s possible that prices have begun to stabilize as refineries increase production to meet record-high demand and drivers make plans for Memorial Day weekend.

This summer, the number of drivers on the road could rival 2007, when gasoline demand hit an all-time high. Even with the recent price increase, drivers are spending 45 cents less per gallon than they did last year. Last month, AAA estimated that U.S. drivers had saved nearly $12 billion on gas this year compared to the same period in 2015.

A recent AAA survey found that 69 percent of vacationers were planning to take a road trip in the next year. And 55 percent said they are more likely to take a road trip this year due to lower gas prices.

This story was originally published May 15, 2016 at 6:10 PM with the headline "Low Modesto gas prices could continue as summer nears."