After Months of Increases, Gas Prices See Drop

For the first time since Manchester Patch began monitoring area gas prices, locals are paying less for a gallon of regular then they were the previous week. 

The average price as of late Friday morning is $3.82 for a gallon of regular, a 3-cent decrease from the same time last week.

The decrease comes as gas stations are beginning to reflect last week’s drop in price for a barrel of oil.  Oil has averaged approximately $100 a barrel over the last week, coming down from a peak of $113.

Motorists may not have to wait much longer to see more of a price decrease at the pump. Navi Bachen, manager of the Exxon located at Route 37 and Commonwealth Boulevard, said that he believes cheaper gas will arrive before the end of the month.

"It will be $3.50 probably," he said when asked about his knowledge of the industry and prices. "They are saying the gas will go down by Memorial Day weekend."

Manchester and Lakehurst residents are paying an average of 7-cents less for gas then their Garden State counterparts, as AAA put the average price for a gallon of regular in New Jersey at $3.89 as of Friday morning.  Nationally the average gallon of regular is costing drivers $3.98.

Check out below what local stations are charging for gas.  All prices are as of late morning Friday, May 13.

• Exxon: Route 37 and Commonwealth Boulevard, Manchester: $3.83 regular, $3.99 plus, $4.09 premium.
• Circle Service: Route 37 and Route 70 circle, Lakehurst: $3.81 regular, $3.95 plus, $4.19 premium.
• Gulf: Route 70 and Route 547 (Center Street), Lakehurst: $3.78 regular, $3.88 plus, $4.15 premium.
• Wawa: Route 70 and Route 539, Manchester: $3.85 regular, $3.95 plus, $4.05 premium.
• Jersey Gas: Route 530 and Station Road, Whiting: Cash:  $3.79 regular, $3.89 plus, $3.99 premium; Credit: $3.85 regular, $3.95 plus, $4.05 premium.
• Quick Chek – Route 70 and Route 571, Manchester.  $3.81 regular, $3.95 plus, $4.05 premium.

As of press time, Jersey Gas is the only station charging a separate price for cash and credit. For figuring out the local average, Jersey Gas was calculated at $3.82, the average price for a gallon regular purchased from Jersey Gas.