Gas prices have leveled off, but are still the highest ever for the month of September. That's according to AAA.
The national average for regular unleaded adds a cent-and-a-half to $3.86, while Oregon's average fell three cents to $4.01.
Gas prices usually go down after Labor Day when the summer driving season comes to an end, but this year a series of events have kept them up.
Between Hurricane Isaac, violence in the Middle East and actions by the Federal Reserve, the pressure has been put on pump prices.
For the first time since early April, 10 states, including California, Washington and Oregon, have averages at or above $4 a gallon. That's up from nine a week ago.
After increasing steadily from a July 2 low of $3.33, the national average increased 60 of 74 days and peaked most recently at $3.87 on Sept.14.
The national average price at the pump has now decreased for four straight days.
Oregon's average peaked for the year so far on June 1 at $4.27 a gallon. That's just shy of the record high of $4.29 set July 3, 2008.
Then it fell 74 cents to its summer low of $3.53 on July 13.
Oregon's average then shot up to its late summer high $4.036 on Sept. 7.
On Tuesday, crude traded below $96 per barrel. That's compared to $97 a week ago. Crude prices are about the same now as they were a month ago.
The current national average is $3.859 a gallon. A year ago it was $3.593.
Oregon's average is $4.006 versus $3.836 a year ago.
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