Slow slide for U.S. gasoline prices

WASHINGTON, June 18 (UPI) -- The average U.S. retail price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was down a penny as commuters settled into the work week, AAA reports.

AAA said the average retail price was $3.60 a gallon nationwide for regular unleaded Tuesday, down about a cent from Monday.

The Energy Information Administration, the U.S. Energy Department's statistical arm, reports an average price of $ 3.62 for Monday, down nearly 3 cents from the previous week.

AAA said drivers in the Great Lakes region paid the highest average price, with Illinois reporting an average $4.08 per gallon. The region is in the midst of a temporary price spike in part because of refinery issues in Chicago. South Carolina reported the lowest average price of $3.25 per gallon.

EIA said the average price for a gallon of gasoline as of Monday is 9 cents higher than the same time last year.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said in its June oil market report there was ample supply of gasoline at the start of the summer driving season, which lasts from April through September in the United States.

In a short-term outlook report last week, the EIA predicted regular gasoline will average $3.53 a gallon for the summer driving season.