South Carolina gas prices drop 15 cents per gallon amid seasonal changes

Gas prices in South Carolina have decreased by more than 15 cents per gallon over the past week, according to a recent GasBuddy survey reported by ABC News 4 WCIV. This decline is part of a nationwide trend driven by seasonal shifts as demand typically lessens with cooler weather.

Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy's head of petroleum analysis, explained that such price drops are common in the weeks leading up to elections, with refiners completing maintenance and increasing output. He noted that this seasonal effect, rather than political factors, is currently the main driver of lower prices.

As of Monday morning, the average gas price across South Carolina stood at $3.45 per gallon, nearly 55 cents less than a month ago but still over 77 cents higher than the same time last year. Prices in the state range from a low of $3.03 to a high of $5.29 per gallon.

De Haan also mentioned that the election outcome could influence Washington's focus on affordability, potentially leading to further efforts to reduce prices in the future.