Gas Prices Down 7 Cents Locally This Week

Local gas prices saw a 7-cent dip from last week, even as the cost for a barrel of oil price continues to hover near the $90 mark. 

Oil prices stayed close to where they were this time last week as mixed data hit the markets recently, giving investors no clear indication of whether demand and thus prices will be moving down or up.

Earlier this week, OPEC modified their demand forecast through 2012, predicting that oil demand will remain weak. While an announcement like this would normally push oil prices down, news out of Europe that France and Germany have reiterated their support to help Greece through its financial crisis — which pushed the euro stronger against the U.S. dollar — offset any decrease in oil prices from the OPEC forecast.

As of Friday locally, Manchester and Lakehurst residents are paying $3.42 for a gallon regular, less than the national average of $3.61 for a gallon of regular, according to AAA.

The average New Jersey driver is paying $3.53 a gallon, also according to AAA.

If travel is in your plans for the weekend, make sure you get the best deal while filling up.  Below are the local gas prices, taken the morning of Friday, September 16.

• – Route 37 and Commonwealth Boulevard, Manchester: $3.49 regular, $3.59 plus, $3.75 premium.
•  – Route 37 and Route 70 circle, Lakehurst: $3.41 regular, $3.65 plus, $3.75 premium.
• – Route 70 and Route 547 (Center Street), Lakehurst: $3.41 regular, $3.51 plus, $3.89 premium.
• – Route 70 and Route 539, Manchester: $3.41 regular, $3.51 plus, $3.61 premium.
• Jersey Gas – Route 530 and Station Road, Whiting: Cash: $3.39 regular, $3.49 plus, $3.59 premium. Credit: $3.45 regular, $3.55 plus, $3.65 premium.
• Quick Chek – Route 70 and Route 571, Manchester: $3.39 regular, $3.59 plus, $3.69 premium.
• Wawa* – Route 37 and Northampton, Toms River: $3.39 regular, $3.49 plus, $3.59 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 $3.42, the average price for a gallon of regular purchased from Jersey Gas.

*Also included this week thanks to reader request, the price for the Wawa gas station located at Route 37 and Northampton Drive in Toms River. Though a Toms River station, it does serve many Manchester residents since it is on the town border. Since this station is in Toms River, it was not included in the Manchester/Lakehurst local gas price average, but rather for reader convenience.