US gas prices have fallen below four dollars a gallon for the first time in almost four months, offering some relief to motorists as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.
The national average stood at $3.9788 on Tuesday, according to AAA. That is down from $4.56 a gallon earlier this year.
Why US gas prices are falling
The decline has coincided with petrol stations switching from summer-blend fuel to cheaper winter blends. Summer petrol, required between June 1 and September 15, is designed to reduce evaporation, while winter blends cost less to produce.
Demand also tends to weaken as the colder months bring fewer road trips and holidays. AAA says prices typically fall by around 10 to 30 cents a gallon during winter for that reason.
Patrick De Haan, a petroleum expert at GasBuddy, expects fuel prices to continue easing into the Thanksgiving period.
Oil prices, the main influence on costs at the pump, have also fallen amid hopes that the US midterm elections could open the way to a deal between the US and Iran to end the war.
