Oregon Public Broadcasting

The average price of gas in Oregon is lower than it's been in nearly four years. Becca Bartleson reports.

The price at the pump just keeps on falling. And in Oregon that means the average is now below two dollars, the cheapest it's been since February of '05.

AAA officials say national prices could bottom out at $1.50 a gallon. And they predict that will be sooner, rather than later.

Marie Dodds works for AAA Oregon. She says oil prices are dropping because there's less demand for energy. And that's linked to the recession.

Marie Dodds: "For many people it is the silver lining in this bad economy. It does offer a bit of relief but the thing that people have to keep in mind is that gas prices are along for the ride with what's happening with the economy and it's likely that when the economy starts to improve, gas prices will start to go back up again."

Dodds says the saddest part is that as oil prices drop, fewer people invest in alternative energy.