Gas Prices Decline For Seventh Straight Week

Contrary to popular wisdom, gas prices did not rise this Memorial Day weekend and in fact are down for the seventh straight week.

The price for a gallon of regular has fallen every week since early April when, on the 5th, the average price hit $3.97—that same gallon now costs an average of $3.56 in the Baltimore area, according to the latest AAA survey. This price represents a 5-cent decline from a week ago and a 15-cent drop from the same period in 2011, AAA reports.

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For the first time since October 2011, gas prices closed at less than $90 per barrel, AAA reports. The dropping cost per barrel of crude oil along with strengthening reserves in the country has led to some relief at the pump.

Despite falling prices, some analysts are still saying that 2012 will go down as the "most expensive year ever for gasoline," AAA reported.

Looking to fill up before hitting the road this Memorial Day weekend? Here are some of the cheapest gas prices in the Essex-Middle River area, according to Patch’s gas price tracker and MarylandGasPrices.com: