By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-976231.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – The 4th of July holiday weekend interrupted a trend in dropping gas costs, but Lynn Hatter reports the federal government's plan to release oil from its reserves will return process to a downward slide.
Gas prices in the United States have been dropping ahead of the federal government's planned 30-million barrel release from the strategic oil reserves. The oil is set to hit the market this week, but the expectation of a surplus caused early price decreases. Also contributing to the downward trend is the state of the economy. Growth in the U.S. manufacturing sector is being canceled out by a slowdown in China, which is the world's second-largest oil consumer. Triple-A Auto Club South Spokeswoman Brenda Smith says there's no telling how low gas prices will go.
"A lot of it depends on what happens when these oil releases come out the latter part of this week and if China rebounds."
Right now, the national average is $3.56 per gallon, and the average in Florida is $3.46 a gallon.