Gas prices across Bay State slump below $2

Three years, eight months, and 10 days - that's how long it has been since the state's average gas price was below $2 a gallon. Until yesterday.

Massachusetts gas stations are charging customers, on average, about $1.92 for a gallon of gas, according to AAA Southern New England.

That is 17 cents below last week's figure, and 53 percent less than in July when prices topped $4 a gallon. In fact, Massachusetts drivers haven't paid this little to fill up their tanks since March 2005, when a gallon of gas was going for $1.97.

"I honestly never thought I would see $2 a gallon gas again, never mind under $2," said AAA spokesman Arthur Kinsman, who called the falling prices a "respite" for consumers. Still, he urged drivers to conserve by sharing rides and making errand-running trips more efficient through planning.

"I think people should continue whatever good driving habits they picked up when gas was over $4 a gallon," Kinsman said. "Who knows what next summer will bring?"

For now, however, gas is cheap, thanks mostly to decreased demand and concerns about a global recession.

According to the website www.massachusettsgasprices.com, the rock-bottom price in the state was $1.67 yesterday. At least two stations were selling it at that price. At one, Diamond Fuel in Whitman, a line of cars stretched into the street, said owner Nancy Abouyazbeck.

"They love it," she said of her customers' reaction.

At the Prime Energy gas station on North Montello Street in Brockton, $1.67-a-gallon gas was also drawing a crowd. Station manager Abdul Assita said he dropped his price from $1.71 early in the morning.

"Every day, I see it going down and that's good for now," said Assita. "For the holiday, it's going to be beautiful. [It will] help people to move to see their families."

But that doesn't mean prices won't see some upticks. Strong showings by stock markets and a weak dollar helped push up the price of crude oil yesterday for the second day in a row. The cost per barrel rose more than 9 percent over two days to close at $54.50 yesterday on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Erin Ailworth can be reached at eailworth@globe.com.