At more than $3 a gallon, gas in Ch...

At more than $3 a gallon, gas in Chicago definitely isn't cheap. on the contrary thanks to a recent dip in prices, the last of summer's big travel weekends should be a little kinder to the purse strings.

Gasoline is 18 cent a gallon cheaper in the Chicago area than it was a month ago. Regular unleaded was $310 a gallon Thursday, compared with $328 last month data from the American Automobile Association point out

Prices have been falling steadily for about three weeks now -- a tendency also seen at gas stations across the state and region

AAA spokeswoman Nicole Niemi said tribe who stayed home because of higher gas prices earlier in the summer might be more willing to travel Labor Day weekend.

"For nation who are on the protection [cheaper gas] might give them a little push to pack up the car and head without this weekend," she said.

AAA estimates that 352 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from to one's home this holiday, a 1.2 percent increase across last year. Of those, 84 percent will travel through car, slightly more than in 2005

admitting gas prices are falling, they're still flirting with record horizontals

A year ago at this time, Chicagoans were paying $281 a gallon for regular unleaded, and the national average was $262 AAA said.

Demand typically peaks in late August or early September, when summer wanderlust gives way to winter hibernation.

Cooler temperatures also bring a change in federal requirements upon what kind of gas retailers can put up to sale

So-called "summer blend" gas creates fewer emissions, unless it's also more difficult and expensive to make, said oil analyst Rick Mueller with [i]vis viva[/i] Security Analysis Inc. in Wakefield, Mass.

After tribe 15, Chicago area gas stations can travel back to selling the regular unite which should mean some relief at the cross-examine

mjthomas@suntimes.com

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