U.S. average gas price nears $3 as Christmas approaches

The national average for a gallon of gas was just shy of $3.10 Wednesday morning, according to the AAA.

“AAA is forecasting that roughly 104 million Americans will drive to their holiday destinations this year, and they will be greeted with the gift of falling gas prices,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson.

“With pump prices falling slowly each day, it is likely that the national average will slide below $3 per gallon by the end of the year.”

Meanwhile, New York’s state average for this report hovers near $3.40, just shy of last-year’s average price of $3.47.

In Lowville, NY, fuel prices have been ranging as low as $3.35 and $3.49 in Boonville, NY, according to GasBuddy.

In the Watertown, NY area, GasBuddy is reporting pump prices as low as $3.05 and as low as $3.29 in Syracuse, NY.

In the Mohawk Valley region, gas prices in Utica, NY are being found as low as $3.26 for this report and $3.35 in Rome, NY.

Last-year at this time, the national average fuel price was $3.12.

"For those keeping score at home, last year’s low came on December 23," the AAA said. "The main reasons are tepid demand and a low cost for oil, which is hovering around $70 per barrel."

AAA images.