Gas supplies have remained steady and fears of supply interruptions have eased, causing gasoline prices to drop for the third week in a row, the Automobile Club of Southern California said.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.243, which is 2.4 cents lower than last week, four cents higher than last month and 65 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.385, down 1.7 cents from last week, one cent above last month and 70 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $3.271, down 2.1 cents from last week, two cents above last month and 69 cents higher than last year.

The auto club said gas prices rose rapidly on shortage fears in the early summer, and since supplies have remained steady prices are now easing off, the auto club said.