Jan. 10—VALDOSTA — Gasoline prices in South Georgia slipped slightly over the past week, matching state and national trends.

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Valdosta Wednesday was $2.90, down three cents over the previous seven days, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

The lowest price reported Wednesday in the Azalea City was $2.60 per gallon at a store on Rocky Ford Road, according to the price tracking website gasbuddy.com. The lowest price reported Wednesday in Tifton was $2.82 per gallon at a retailer on US Hwy. 84 West.

Valdosta was tied with Albany for the fifth-least expensive gasoline prices among the 15 Georgia metro markets monitored by the auto club: Above Warner Robins, Rome, Dalton and Catoosa but below Savannah, Macon, Hinesville, Gainesville, Columbus, Brunswick, Augusta, Atlanta and Athens.

Nationally, the average price of gasoline Wednesday was $3.08 per gallon, down a penny in a week, while Georgia's average of $2.95 per gallon was down three cents in the same period, AAA said.

"January is a bit of blah time of year, and gas prices are in the doldrums as well," said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. "Barring some unexpected shock to the global oil market, gas prices will likely shuffle up and down a few cents for a while."

In Wednesday's market action, benchmark U.S. crude oil for February delivery fell 87 cents to $71.37 per barrel Wednesday. Brent crude for March delivery fell 79 cents to $76.80 per barrel.

Wholesale gasoline for February delivery fell 1 cent to $2.07 a gallon. February heating oil fell 5 cents to $2.60 a gallon. February natural gas fell 15 cents to $3.04 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Terry Richards is the senior reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times.