With a slight drop in prices, gas is getting close to dipping under $4 per gallon locally.

Average gasoline prices in Modesto have fallen 6.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.02/gallon on Dec. 8, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 201 stations in Modesto. Prices in Modesto are 36.1 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 4.7 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 5.1 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.67 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Modesto was priced at $3.54/gallon while the most expensive was $4.79, a difference of $1.25/gallon. The lowest price in the state was $2.81 while the highest was $8.19, a difference of $5.38/gallon.

The national average price of gasoline has fallen 5.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.90/gallon. The national average is down 17.6 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 7.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices include: Stockton - $3.93/gallon, down 15.8 cents from last week’s $4.08; Oakland - $4.30, down 8.6 cents from $4.38; and San Jose - $4.24/gallon, down 11.2 cents per gallon from last week’s $4.35/gallon.

“Gas prices continued to decline in most states last week, while some price cycling states saw temporary spikes to restore margins,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “With the national average falling further, we’re now at multi-year lows heading into Christmas. Barring any major disruptions, prices are likely to stay relatively low into the new year.”