NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - Ups and Downs Of Gas Prices

Ups and Downs Of Gas Prices

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Fifteen days of falling gas prices is enough to sooth some of the pain at the pump.

Some drivers even feel like they're making a deal.

Less than a month ago, when gasoline rose past the $4 mark locally, some people wondered if it would reach $5.

"They're heading in the right direction," said Jeff Alger, as he waited at a Murfreesboro gas station to fill up his vehicle.

"It's pretty high but you can't really beat it anywhere else really," said Tyler Simmons, another driver, commenting about the cost decreasing.

Regular gasoline for $3.69 attracted drivers to a station on West Main Street.

"We were out school shopping so we stopped here for a deal. So, I think it's a lot better than most places," said Stacey Dudeck.

"Better than anywhere else, that's for sure," said Lynn Gathright.

Is it a deal or are driver's minds playing tricks on them?

"That doesn't mean you have to be happy about the prices," said David Penn, director of Middle Tennessee State University's Business and Economic Research Center.

Penn said the consumer is more comfortable paying for gas that's cheaper than $4 a gallon.

Compared to a month ago prices are down about 5 percent.

"That translates at about $3 less per fill up.  Fill up once a week that's another $12 a month," Penn said.

In your pocket rather than down the tank.

"But you're still spending $15 more per tank than you did a year ago," Penn said.

That is fresh in the minds of many.

"It's hard to feel like you're getting a deal at 3.75 or whatever the price is versus what we were paying a year or two ago. Prices need to come down," Alger said.

When asked what was the perfect price, one driver said, "Two bucks. Below two bucks.  What it was about a year ago."

"Two dollars is about what I'd like to pay," said another driver.

Penn warned that some sort of refinery problem or a hurricane could shake things up overnight. That could send gas prices to record highs once again.

It's safe to say drivers are keeping their fingers crossed hoping the downward trend continues.

According to AAA, Nashville's average gas prices are $3.79 a gallon. A year ago, it was $2.75 a gallon.