Gas prices continue to fall in Winneshiek County

At one point not too many month ago, it looked like Winneshiek County residents would pay $4.00 per gallon of gasoline.  The price never quite topped that level--and now gas prices have dropped sharply.

The average U.S. retail price of a gallon of gas has dropped 38 cents to $3.60 per gallon.  In Winneshiek County most stations are now selling gasoline for $3.35 a gallon.

Analysts say the price drop is the result of slowing economic growth, which is weakening demand for oil and gas.

Gas prices are expected to drop even more after news the U.S. government will release 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.  Analysts expect a drop of another 25 cents per gallon, which would put the price at just slightly more than $3.00 per gallon.