Gas Prices Falling; Still Higher than Last Year

The Fourth of July holiday came and went and gasoline prices continued their unusual summer decline.

In the East Bay, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is now $3.76. That's 5 cents cheaper than last week and 23 cents cheaper than a month ago.

Last year at this time, regular unleaded was selling here for $3.17 a gallon, according to a California State Automobile Association website.

Gasbuddy.com found the cheapest regular gas in Piedmont for $3.85 a gallon at the . In the nearby Piedmont Avenue district of Oakland, it's $3.75 a gallon at the . It's more expensive in Montclair—$3.87 at the .

The cheapest price in the East Bay on the gas buddy website is $3.44 a gallon at the Costco in Livermore. The Quik Stop and the Gas and Shop on North Vasco Road in Livermore are next, both selling regular unleaded for $3.49 a gallon.

The most expensive station in the East Bay listed on that site is the Chevron station at Camino Ramon and Fostoria Way in San Ramon. Unleaded regular is listed at $4.09 a gallon.

In California, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.78. That's 4 cents less than a week ago and 22 cents cheaper than last month. Last year at this time, gas was $3.14 a gallon.

Nationally, the average price remains at $3.56. That's the same as last week and 22 cents lower than a month ago. In July 2010, it was $2.72 a gallon.