Special to The Post-Searchlight

Average retail gasoline prices in Georgia have fallen 5.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.18-per-gallon on Sunday. This compares with the national average that has fallen 4.1 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.32-per-gallon, according to gasoline price website georgiagasprices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Georgia during the past week, prices yesterday were 49.3 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 17.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 14.4 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 46.3 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

“The national average in the U.S. is at its lowest since Feb. 25, but remains at record highs for this time of year,” said gasbuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “While the downtrend in gasoline prices has certainly been welcome news for motorists, I see the trend short lived, and believe we may see continued volatility in the days ahead, but even with said volatility I do expect many Americans will see average prices between $3.25-$3.50 for the rest of 2011.”

Gasbuddy.com operates more than 200 live gasoline price-tracking websites, including georgiagasprices.com. Gasbuddy.com was named one of Time magazine’s 50 best websites and to PC World’s 100 most useful websites of 2008.