Average retail gasoline prices in the Modesto area have fallen 5.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.63 per gallon as of Aug. 25, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 201 gas outlets in Modesto. This compares with the national average that has fallen 0.4 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.57/gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Modesto during the past week, prices were 43.5 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 20.2 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 9.5 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 16.6 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago.

“As driving season works closes out, the national average has been remarkably quiet, so far, but that may change as gasoline inventories declined a sizable amount last week,” said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “The Energy Information Administration in its weekly report issued last Wednesday highlighted one of the largest drops in gasoline inventories this year. That was likely a culprit for a late-week rally in gasoline futures and spot prices, which in turn may mean that as this week wears on, gasoline prices could start showing some upward movement. Any increases may be limited, however, by the impending end of summer driving season.”

GasBuddy operates ModestoGasPrices.com and over 250 similar websites that track gasoline prices at over 140,000 gasoline stations in the United States and Canada. In addition, GasBuddy offers a free smartphone app which has been downloaded over 25 million times to help motorists find the lowest gasoline prices in their area.