The AAA national average gas price dropped -4.6 cents to $3.157 last week. This is down -0.4 cents from a month ago and down -5.6 cents from a year ago.

• Fall is officially here, bringing lower gas prices and winter-blend gasoline which is cheaper to produce. Pacific Northwest drivers are getting some relief now that a pipeline issue has been resolved and pump prices are trending downward. The Atlantic hurricane season is halfway over, but the tropics remain a concern for the next two months if there’s storm activity in the Gulf that affects refineries in the area.