Triangle gas prices lower than a year ago

The average price Sunday for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the Triangle was $2.61. The state average was $2.62 a gallon. A year ago that average was $2.65 per gallon.

Ron Clapp was among the motorists who noticed fluctuating gas prices this weekend. He and his family were traveling Sunday from Winston Salem to Atlantic Beach for a one-week vacation.

"We bought gas really cheap before we left home. I noticed that it is more expensive down here,” Clapp said while buying gas in Raleigh.

The average national price of regular gasoline has dropped more than 11 cents over a three-week period to $2.72, according to the Lundberg Survey of fuel prices released Sunday. Despite lower prices, many travelers say it is still expensive to fill up.

"It affects where we're planning to go, what we're trying to see. So it's definitely noticeable,” motorist Todd Bishton said.

Bishton, of Wilmington, was visiting Raleigh on Sunday with his girlfriend when he stopped to fill up his car's gas tank. He says they plan to spend the summer traveling.

"We’ve gone to Myrtle Beach for the day, (and are) heading up to Virginia next weekend. So we'll be definitely on the road the next few weeks,” Bishton said.

Analysts expect prices to rise heading into the Fourth of July weekend and then fall after that because of plentiful supplies and ongoing demand.