For the first time in months, national gas prices have dropped below $4. Although the Arizona average has not yet dipped below that mark, prices for gas in the state are at their lowest since early March.
The average in Arizona fell just below $4.20 as of Thursday, but some gas stations across the state are already offering prices as low as $3.36 per gallon, according to gasbuddy.com, a website that compares gas station prices.
Along with Colorado, Arizona is the state that has seen the most dramatic drop in gas prices in the nation this week, with the regular gas average decreasing 21 cents per gallon since last Thursday, according to AAA.
John Treanor, an AAA spokesperson, said Arizona prices peaked in June at $5.02. Since then, prices have dropped over 80 cents per gallon.
Yet Treanor said it's hard to predict if prices will keep dropping, and he advised Arizonans to enjoy the recent fall while it lasts.
"Enjoy prices while we have them," he said. "We're all getting a little break to pump down, we're all filling up our tanks and maybe not holding our breath while we're doing it. But we just don't know what's gonna happen in the future."
Last month: Arizona gas prices have fallen from record highs. Here's what experts predict will happen next
Why are prices dropping
The average national gas price has continued to drop ever since its peak on June 14. The average price has gone down at least 1 cent daily for 38 straight days, ultimately dropping to $3.99 per gallon for regular gasoline on Monday, according to AAA.
The biggest factor for the cost of gas is oil prices, Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, told USA TODAY.
Gross said U.S. crude oil hit $93.18 a barrel, while the international standard Brent crude cost $103.81 as of Wednesday, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, both of which have dropped at least 20 cents a barrel since the July Fourth weekend.
But oil is not the only factor. According to Treanor, much of the recent price drop can be attributed to drivers changing their habits and lifestyle.
"Since the beginning of the year, we saw this tremendous demand for fuel because COVID restrictions had lifted. People were getting back to work, back to a normal life, people started traveling more, so demand was up," Treanor said. "But at the same time, we had a war in Ukraine, and Russian oil was taken off the market, so we saw a drop in supply."
Consequently, prices reached an all-time high, causing demand to drop again.