Gas prices are dropping in Missouri but prices are a little slower to fall in St. Joseph.

According to AAA the National Average for a gallon or regular unleaded was $2.30. That’s a drop of .6 from a week ago and $1.00 from the same time last year. Missouri’s average was at $2.09, down .4 from a week ago and $1.06 in a year time span. However, St. Joseph’s average was higher than the state’s Friday at $2.19. While St. Joseph showed a drop of .10 in a week the trend looked to lag slightly behind the state’s drop. In fact, the cheapest metro in the state to buy gas on average Friday was Springfield with an average of $2.01.

Gas prices are looking to fall under the $2 mark. As of Sept. 14 three southern states had already posted averages below $2. Those included South Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama. It’s the first time that three states had averages below $2 since February.

AAA said gas prices remain much cheaper than last year due to the relatively low price of crude oil with drivers saving an average of $1.06 per gallon compared to a year ago.

Barring any unexpected disruptions in supply or spikes in the price of crude oil, AAA said the national average is expected to keep moving lower as we head into the fall. Pump prices typically decline during this time of year due to lower driving demand after the busy summer driving season and the changeover to cheaper to produce winter-blend gasoline, which took place in many parts of the country on September 16.