Gasoline prices in U.S. down after holiday

WASHINGTON, May 31 (UPI) -- The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline declined for the week after the U.S. Memorial Day holiday, the U.S. Energy Department said.

The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said the national average retail price for a gallon of gasoline was down 3 cents to $3.65 as of Monday. The largest decrease came was in the Midwest, which saw a 9 cent average decline to $3.78 per gallon.

The week before the holiday, the EIA said low inventories and refinery work put the Midwest in the gasoline price spike that started in mid April.

The EIA said consumers in Minnesota were hardest hit, with gasoline prices as of May 20 at $4.29, more than 60 cents higher than the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded. Motor group AAA reported that Minnesota consumers paid about $3.93 for a gallon of gasoline Friday.

AAA reports that consumers paid, on average, $3.61 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline Friday. That's down 4 cents compared to before the Memorial Day holiday weekend but about the same as this time last year.

The EIA reports that U.S. consumers should pay about $3.53 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline this summer, down from last year's average.