Gasoline Selling for Lowest Price This Year

Americans are paying an average of $3.25 per gallon nationwide for regular gasoline, the lowest price of 2012, according to AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

Analysts note that U.S. fuel prices typically drop in December. The current price is 1 cent more than a year ago.

Pump prices have tumbled about 60 cents in the last three months, including a 17-cent decline a month ago. Despite the recent retreat, the average cost of gasoline thus far this year is a record-high $3.63 per gallon.

Gasoline peaked this year at $3.94 in early April, about six weeks after crude oil prices hit this year's high of nearly $110 per barrel.

Crude oil futures rose 47 cents per barrel on Monday on the New York Mercantile Exchange to close at $87.20. Oil futures have dropped more than $11 since mid-September.