TAMPA, Fla. (Dec. 16, 2012) – Motorists get the gift of falling gas prices right before the holiday travel season begins on December 22. Pump prices are forecast to decrease even more as millions prepare to take their holiday road trip.

Gas prices steadily declined since November 1, when the national average was $3.51. The current national average is $3.26, 25 cents less. Prices in the Southeast region followed the same trend. On November 1, regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.34 in the Southeast, since then the average has dropped 20 cents to $3.14.

"Although gas price averages are only a few cents shy of what motorists paid last year, prices are not expected to deter holiday travelers," said Jessica Brady, AAA spokeswoman, The Auto Club Group. "AAA forecasts more than 84 million Americans will hit the road for a holiday vacation this year and the good news is pump prices are expected to fall again this week. Some areas in the Southeast have already seen gas prices dip below $3 a gallon."

A barrel of oil settled Friday at $86.73 on the New York Mercantile Exchange—80 cents more than the week prior.

The national average price of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.26, 9 cents less than last week. Florida’s average of $3.27 decreased 6 cents from last week. Georgia’s average price of $3.18 and Tennessee’s average of $3.05 both fell 8 cents last week, respectively. Visit AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report to find national, state, and local metro market retail gasoline prices.

Current and past gas price averages: National:

Current-$3.257

Last week-$3.347

Last month-$3.430

Last year-$3.250

Florida:

Current-$3.269

Last week-$3.332

Last month-$3.341

Last year-$3.285

Georgia:

Current-$3.181

Last week-$3.258

Last month-$3.229

Last year-$3.185

Tennessee:

Current-$3.053

Last week-$3.129

Last month-$3.156

Last year-$3.085