The average price for gasoline across Northeast Ohio is four cents lower this week at $3.460 per gallon, according to AAA East Central's Gas Price Report.

This week's average prices were $3.460 while the average price during the week of July 31 was $3.506. The AAA says the average price last year round the same time was $3.695.

Despite this decrease, the national average for a gallon of gas is continuing to trend higher, rising seven cents over the last week to $3.82.

These increases are mostly due to the price of oil, which has been staying close to $80 per barrel. Last month's extreme heat also contributed to the recent gas price spike as some refineries pulled back on production, but operations are now normalizing.

The AAA says the national average is 29 cents more than a month ago, but 24 cents less than a year ago.

According to data from the Energy Information Administration, gas demand decreased by $1.88 to settle at $79.49. Oil prices temporarily dropped after the U.S. credit rating declined, increasing market fears that oil demand could decline if the economy ease.

The administration also reported that total domestic, commercial crude inventories decreased by 17 million barrels to 439.8 million barrels.