Average retail gasoline prices in Maine have fallen 3.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.64 per gallon. This compares with the national average that has fallen 5.6 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.51 per gallon, according to www.MaineGasPrices.com. 

Including the change in gas prices in Maine during the past week, prices yesterday were 14.5 cents per gallon higher than one year ago and are 31.0 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 28.4 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 7.0 cents per gallon higher than one year ago. 

"Even with Hurricane Sandy causing havoc on refineries and infrastructure in the Northeast, gasoline prices nationally have continued to trend lower," GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan said. "It goes to show how much more significant the Gulf Coast is to this nation's energy backbone when such a massive storm causes no major rise in the national average. 

“The good news is that average prices will likely continue to decline, perhaps to $3.35/gal nationally by Thanksgiving. For those in Sandy's wake, fuel availability remains difficult, and is the reason GasBuddy has implemented an emergency fuel availability service.” DeHaan said. 

The Hurricane Sandy fuel availability site is www.gasbuddy.com/sandy/.