Gas prices drop after small increase

PROVIDENCE -- Rhode Island drivers are seeing lower prices at the pump, one week after a small increase interrupted weeks of falling prices.

A survey conducted Monday by AAA Southern New England reported that a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline was averaging $3.55 at self-serve stations. That's 4 cents cheaper than last week.

A separate survey by the state Office of Energy Resources showed the average price was $3.56.

Gas prices in Massachusetts have dropped another nickel.The average price of self-serve, regular gas in the Bay State is $3.55 per gallon. It was the ninth consecutive week of lower prices. Gasoline prices in Massachusetts are 10 cents below the national average.

Gas prices had been declining since mid-July until the slight uptick in early September. The cost of gasoline is 33 percent more expensive than at the same time last year.