The nationwide average for gas is now $3.21. It hasn't been that low since December 2011. Five states
-- Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas -- have averages below $3 a gallon.
Gas has fallen 38 cents since Labor Day, a period in which oil prices declined by about $14 a barrel. In addition, a relatively calm hurricane season has meant no major storm-related disruptions at the nation's big refineries.
AAA earlier this week forecast the national average could drop to $3.10 by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the price of oil rose 40 cents Friday to close at $94.60 a barrel. Encouraging data on U.S. employment was offset by the possibility of a loosening of sanctions against Iran by the West.
Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, rose $1.66 to $105.12 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.
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