The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles area fell for the third week in a row, declining 6.5 cents to $2.830 for the week ended Oct. 24.

L.A. prices are 39.8 cents higher than they were a year ago, according to the federal Energy Information Administration.

Statewide, prices slipped 7.5 cents to $2.827 from $2.902 one week earlier, leaving them 43.3 cents higher than year-ago rates. California had the highest-priced gas in the nation for the third consecutive week.

San Francisco was the most expensive city, falling 8.9 cents to $2.861. Los Angeles was in second place, tied with Miami.

Minnesota had the lowest-priced gas of the states surveyed, at $2.295 per gallon, and the city with cheapest gas was Cleveland, which shed 17.2 cents to $2.398 per gallon.