Gas prices down sharply over the past month, as we head into Labor Day travel weekend

Gas prices are down more than 20 cents over the past month, with the average price at the pump in eight states below the $3-per-gallon mark.

“It seems fitting that, in the run-up to Labor Day, the national average has fallen for four straight weeks to its lowest point since February, giving Americans one last chance to hit the road with gas prices being less of a factor,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which reports that the average price of a gallon of unleaded gas at the start of business on Monday was at $3.30, down 6.2 cents in the past week and 20.7 cents from a month ago.

The average in Virginia is $3.21 per gallon, down 6.6 cents in the past week and 18.9 cents per gallon down from a month ago.

The national average price of diesel has declined 3.2 cents in the last week and stands at $3.67 per gallon, a multi-year low.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Virginia was priced at $2.81/gallon on Sunday.

Nearly 20 percent of the gas stations in the U.S. are selling gasoline at $2.99 or lower, De Haan said.

“These numbers will continue to look better every week as we move into fall,” De Haan said. “GasBuddy’s Labor Day travel forecast, to be released tomorrow, will provide more good news about the millions of dollars Americans who are road-tripping will save compared to last year.”