Summer's Here, Fuel Prices Continue to Fall

We're on a roll.

A day before the first official day of summer – when fuel costs typically spike – the price of gasoline got a little bit cheaper, marking five weeks of decline.

The national average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded fell another nickel since last week to $3.64 – that's 22 cents cheaper than a month ago, according to the California State Automobile Association website. It's still a ways up from $2.73, the price of a gallon a year ago.

California's fuel prices outpaced the national average, however. The state average: $3.90 per gallon of unleaded. Still, that's 4 cents less than a week ago. It's also 24 cents less than a month ago and 79 cents more than this time last year.

This week's average per-gallon cost on unleaded fuel in the East Bay's Oakland metro area is $3.89, a few cents down from last Monday and 26 cents down from a month ago.

You can find a better deal if you shop around, though.

The cheapest gas in San Ramon this week is $3.79 per gallon of unleaded – that's at Valero on Market Place and the Dougherty Valley Safeway, according to www.gasbuddy.com, which updates the prices daily. The most expensive gas in town as of Monday was for $4.09 at the Chevron on Fostoria Way and Camino Ramon.

It's cheaper in neighboring Danville, where you can find gas for $3.75 a gallon at the Arco on Boone Court right off of San Ramon Valley Boulevard.

The best deal on gas in Walnut Creek is found at Ideal Miles Plus at Ygnacio Valley Road and Civic Drive, where it's $3.84 a gallon.

Head south down I680 to Dublin to find the city's cheapest gas at Valero on Amador Valley Boulevard and Regional Street for $3.77.

Venture out to Livermore and you'll see gas for $3.59 a gallon at the Gas & Shop on Vasco and Northfront roads.

In Newark, the cheapest gas is at the 76 station at Newark and Cedar boulevards, where it's $3.83 a gallon.

Castro Valley has some pretty good deals compared to the cities around it. Find gas for $3.69 a gallon at the Quick N Save on the corner of Stanton and San Carlos avenues and for $3.75 at Arco, on Center Street by Grove Way.

For more information about the gas prices in your city, go to www.gasbuddy.com and plug in your ZIP code.