ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Rosendo Rodriguez pumps gas Tuesday in Lynn.
By THOMAS GRILLO
LYNN — Here’s something to celebrate this Thanksgiving: lower gasoline prices.
Bay State gas prices fell four cents this week, according to AAA Northeast. The latest survey of prices in Massachusetts finds self-serve, regular averaging $2.08 per gallon.
The Massachusetts price is six cents below the national average for regular of $2.14. A year ago at this time, the average price was one cent lower at $2.07.
“Prices are low and have been for a while, that’s something to be thankful for,” said Steven Masullo, a photographer who filled up his white 2014 Toyota Venza at the full-serve Prime Energy at Boston and Federal streets for $2.09 on Tuesday.
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“This drop in prices at the pump spells good news for Thanksgiving travelers as they take to the roads, especially with nearly nine of every 10 travelers going by car,” said AAA spokeswoman Mary Maguire.
The range in prices on the North Shore for regular is 30 cents, from a low of $2.05 at Super Petroleum in Saugus on Broadway to $2.35 at Gibbs on Western Avenue and Chestnut Street, according to MassachusettsGasPrices.com.
AAA says Massachusetts is projected to outpace the nation in all modes of travel, based on stability of gasoline prices. The auto club estimates that U.S. drivers have saved more than $28 billion at the pumps this year compared to the same period last year.
Nearly 1.1 million Massachusetts residents are expected to travel this year, a nearly 5 percent increase over last year.
Justina Morales, who was filling up her 2002 Honda Odyssey, said she is planning to have Thanksgiving in Lynn with her husband and five children.
“Even though we’re not traveling, gas prices are very low now and we’re able to save money,” she said.
Dot Carruthers will be making the 20-mile trek from Lynn to Milton to spend the holiday with her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.
“It’s going to be a great holiday and reasonable gas prices are a bonus,” she said.
Thomas Grillo can be reached at tgrillo@itemlive.com.