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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 2015)
22 Wednesday,December23,2015The Nugget Newspaper,Sisters,Oregon Gas prices are mighty low nationwide — and in Sisters Country The national average for regular unleaded dipped below $2 per gallon for the first time since March 25, 2009, according to AAA. Monday’s price was $1.998 per gallon. AAA says the national average dropped below the $2 mark on the morning of December 21. The national average was last below $2 per gallon on March25,2009,whenitwas $1.986pergallon.Oregon’s average was last below $2 per gallon on February 6, 2009,whenitwas$1.994per gallon. The current Oregon averageis$2.31. A A A e s t i m a t e s t h a t cheaper gas prices have savedAmericans more than $115 billion on gasoline so far this year compared to 2014, which works out to morethan$550perlicensed driver in the country.AAA projects more than 91 mil- lion Americans and about 1.2millionOregoniansplan totakeadvantageofcheaper gaspricestodrive50miles ormoreduringtheupcoming holidayperiod. Thenationalaverageprice ofgasisabout41centsand the Oregon average is 35 cents less than a year ago. Gas prices have dropped becausetherearemorethan enough oil and gasoline supplies around the world to meet current demand. In addition, gas prices gener- ally fall through early win- terbecausepeopledriveless thistimeofyear.Itislikely that prices will continue to decline over the coming weeks. Nearlytwo-thirdsofU.S. stationsaresellinggasunder $2 per gallon, and drivers canfindatleastonestation sellinggasforlessthanthat pricein45states.Themost commonpricenationwideis $1.999pergallon. Sistersisn’tthatlow,but priceshoveringaround$2.27 look pretty good to folks aroundhere. Thelowestonepercentof U.S.stationsaresellinggas for an average of $1.59 per gallon,andmorethan13,000 stations are selling gas for less than $1.75 per gallon. Thestateswiththecheapest averages include: Missouri ($1.77), Oklahoma ($1.78) andSouthCarolina($1.78). West Coast pump prices have been elevated this fall due to the heavy refinery maintenance season com- bined with unplanned out- ages.Averagesinthesestates maynotfallbelow$2.This region continues to have some of the highest prices for retail gas in the coun- try. Hawaii is most expen- sive at $2.73, followed by California ($2.72), Nevada ($2.49), Washington $2.43 andAlaskaat$2.39.Oregon is sixth most expensive at $2.31.Average state prices canbefoundonAAA’sDaily FuelGaugeReportwebsite. Earlier this year, the national average bottomed out at a multi-year low of $2.033onJanuary26while theOregonaveragebottomed outat$2.115onFebruary2. Average gas prices last fell below $2 per gallon for a brief span between November 2008 and March 2009 during the height of theGreatRecession,asweak globaldemandandasignifi- cantdeclineindrivinghelped pushpricesdownward.Prior to that four-month period, averagegaspriceswerelast below$2pergalloninearly March2005,meaningithas been more than a decade sincegaspriceswerebelow $2pergallonwhentheecon- omywasnotinrecession. Thenationalaverageprice of gas has remained more expensivethan$2pergallon for 2,462 consecutive days. During this 81-month span, gaspricesaveraged$3.11per gallonandreachedashighas $3.98 on May 5, 2011.The highestnationalaverageever was$4.11pergallononJuly 17,2008.ThehighestOregon average on record is $4.29 reachedonJuly3,2008. Basedonnormalseasonal trends,gaspriceslikelywill remainlowthroughJanuary, and could drop even fur- ther if the cost of crude oil remainsweak.Bylatewinter, gaspricesmayrise50cents pergallonormoreasrefin- eriesconductmaintenancein advanceofthebusysummer drivingseason.Themainte- nance reduces fuel produc- tion and typically leads to highergasprices.Despitethe expected seasonal increase, thenationalaveragepriceof gasmaynotriseabove$3per gallon in 2016 because oil shouldremainabundantand relativelyinexpensive. Domestic supplies of commercial crude oil are about 29 percent higher than a year ago, according to the Energy Information Administration, while oil prices are about $70 per barrel cheaper than in the summer of 2014. Oil is the primary cost associated with making gasoline, and every $10 decline in the cost of oil can reduce gas pricesbynearly25centsper gallon. Americans are on track this year to drive a record numberofmiles,largelydue to lower gas prices and a strongereconomy,basedon earlyestimatesbytheFederal HighwayAdministration. Sisters Businesses Are... A Y S for the New Year! At Your Service is a 2-week promotion running in h e Nugget January 13 & 20. Each participating advertiser will receive a full-color display ad for both weeks and a feature article with photo in one of the issues. The total cost is $225 Ad dimensions: 4" x 2.375" At Your Service is a special section cre- ated just for businesses like yours that pro- vide quality services to our local community. Along with a two-week display ad, At Your Service includes an advertorial fea- ture with a photo in one of the issues. Your services and products are highlighted in an interview format, and the interview pro- cess is easy! With photo and copy the adver- torial allows you to provide details about the most important aspects of your busi- ness. It tells your potential customers, what you have to offer and why they need you! Copy deadline is Thursday, January 7 at 5 p.m. Hurry, usually sells out early! Call 541-549-9941 to reserve your space today!