VALDOSTA — The price of gasoline slid substantially in Lowndes County over the week, following state and national trends.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Valdosta Friday was $2.90, down seven cents over seven days, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

The lowest price reported in the Azalea City Friday was $2.63 per gallon at a store on Norman Drive, according to the price tracking website gasbuddy.com

• The lowest price reported Friday in Tifton was $2.69 per gallon on Tift Avnue.
• The lowest price reported Friday in Thomasville was $2.75 per gallon at a store on Highway 319 North.
• The lowest price reported Friday in Moultrie was $2.81 per gallon at a store on Veterans Parkway.

Friday, Valdosta was tied with Hinesville for the sixth-highest average price of gasoline among the 15 Georgia markets monitored by the auto club — below Savannah, Macon, Gainesville, Atlanta and Athens but above Warner Robins, Rome, Dalton, Columbus, Catoosa, Brunswick, Augusta and Albany.

Nationally, the average price of gasoline Friday was $3.11 per gallon, down five cents over a week, while Georgia’s average of $2.96 per gallon was down four cents in the same period, AAA said.

“With the sharp gas price increases on the West Coast now fading, the national average has dipped slightly over the past week. While some areas are seeing increases, others are experiencing stability or even slight declines, as the bulk of the seasonal transition has yet to significantly impact gasoline prices— certainly good news for motorists,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.