LOCAL MOTORISTS ARE ENJOYING LOW GAS PRICES

With predictions a few weeks ago of $2-to-$3-a-gallon gas prices this summer, motorists nationwide were pleasantly surprised to see prices begin falling in June and continue their downward trend well into July.

While motorists are thrilled with prices that have fallen to as low as $1.34 for unleaded regular in Chicago, a city notorious for high gas prices, gas prices in the Cape Girardeau-Jackson area have fallen far below that.

In early July, regular unleaded was selling for an unheard of price of 98 cents at some stations in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, and they have hovered slightly above $1 a gallon since.

In fact, the American Automobile Association said at one point Cape Girardeau County prices for gasoline were the lowest in the country. The average price nationwide on July 13 was $1.51 a gallon.

While wholesale prices of gasoline have fallen, area motorists can thank local retailers for the super-low prices they've been enjoying this summer.

The gasoline bargains are the result of a good, old-fashioned, competitive gas war.