Carson's gas prices lower than average

Gasoline prices in Carson City dropped a penny a gallon last month and were four cents cheaper than Nevada's average - but still higher than the national average, AAA Nevada reported Tuesday.

The average price for self-serve regular in Carson was $1.39 last month, compared to $1.50 in Reno, $1.42 in Las Vegas and $1.43 statewide, the automobile club's monthly survey showed.

Las Vegas had a one-cent increase, bucking the trend in a multi-state area.

"Las Vegas was the only city in Nevada, California or Utah to see gas prices rise instead of fall," AAA Nevada spokesman Paul Moreno said. "Pump prices throughout the country are down slightly."

He said the national average last month was $1.28, down a penny from September. Prices in Northern California went down six cents in October to $1.43, while they decreased four cents in Utah to $1.35.

A continued drop in gas prices appears unlikely, according to AAA Nevada.

Oil prices surged this week on reports showing a drop in worldwide old inventories, Moreno said. Earlier this year, members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed to cut production after seeing prices sink to as low as $11 a barrel at the peak of a global glut of oil, he said.

The strategy appears to be working, he said, with the price of a barrel of West Texas intermediate, the U.S. benchmark crude oil, selling for more than $25 on the New York Mercantile Exchange this week - the highest price in three years.

Alan Kovski, an energy analyst with the Kiplinger Washington newsletter, said he expects lower demands from less driving in the winter will offset higher crude oil costs. He said he expects gas prices to remain level or increase only slightly through January.