Tenn. fuel prices drop slightly

Tennessee marked a minor decrease in fuel prices over the past week. According to a press release from AAA — The Auto Club Group, the average price per gallon of gas throughout the state was $3 as of Monday, June 24. Blount County's average was in line with the state's, at $3.001.

Nearby Loudon and Knox counties posted the same average. Fuel was pricier in Sevier County, at $3.04, and cheaper in Monroe County, at $2.95

The state average was down three cents from the previous week, making Tennessee the fourth least expensive fuel market in the U.S. But while the downward trend in pricing may continue, the commodities market could also disrupt it.

"We have seen gasoline futures prices rise the last two weeks, which raises the cost of producing gasoline. This means we could see some additional fluctuations in gas pricing over the next week, which isn't uncommon during the busy summer travel season," AAA — The Auto Club Group spokesperson Megan Cooper said in the release. Cooper also noted that either shifts in international politics or adverse weather — possible storms threatening oil production by the Gulf of Mexico — could drive up fuel prices.