Local gas prices drop below $2 a gallon

The East Valley and Peoria have joined in what 36 other states have already experienced: average gas prices under $2 per gallon.

The price for unleaded gas is $1.97 in the East Valley on Monday, which dropped three cents since Sunday. Prices at the pump in Peoria were down to $1.99 per gallon from $2.01 on Sunday.

Across the Valley, drivers were paying less than half of what they were in June and July.

Phoenix and the West Valley prices were teetering at $2 per gallon, but gas pumps in Flagstaff were still priced at $2.34.

Although the Arizona average, $2.05, is 15 cents higher than that of the rest of the country, prices have also fallen under the $2 mark in Pima County and in Tucson, according to the AAA Web site.

Missouri took the cake for the lowest average price at $1.59, but Alaska and Hawaii were shelling out $2.86 for a gallon of gas.

Monday the national average was $1.90.

One year ago, it was $3.08.