VALDOSTA — Gas prices in South Georgia fell over the past week, beating state and national trends.

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Valdosta Friday was $3.13, down six cents from seven days earlier, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

The lowest price reported in Valdosta Friday was $2.95 per gallon at a Norman Drive store; the lowest price in Tifton was $2.99 per gallon, at one store each on US-41N and US-41S, according to the price tracking website gasbuddy.com.

Valdosta had the sixth-highest gas price Friday among the 15 Georgia markets monitored by AAA: Below Savannah, Hinesville, Columbus and Atlanta but above Warner Robins, Rome, Macon, Gainesville, Dalton, Catoosa, Augusta and Athens.

Nationally, the average price of gasoline Friday was $3.27 per gallon, down a penny over the week before, while Georgia’s average of $3.14 per gallon was down three cents in the same period, AAA said.

“Old man winter is shuffling toward the exit, and with milder weather and longer days looming, the seasonal rise in gas prices is primed to begin,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “But it will probably be a slow, wobbly start to rising prices.”

In Friday’s market action, U.S. benchmark crude oil lost 36 cents to $78.25 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, gave up 31 cents to $82.39 per barrel.