Falling gas prices have Lynners filling up with hope

LYNN – Lynn resident Paul Konikowski drives a self-described “gas-guzzler,” a white, 1993 Jeep Cherokee that he said gets about 11 miles per gallon in the city. It?s this reason he tries to limit how much he drives.?When gas was almost $4 a gallon, it was almost $100 to fill it up,” said Konikowski, as he filled up his Jeep Friday at the Hess station on Washington Street in Lynn.But, with the American Auto Association reporting that gas prices are down 41 cents in Massachusetts since April, Konikowski is cautiously optimistic about where prices are heading.?It?s a little better now,” said Konikowski. “I don?t drive as much as I used to because of the gas prices. I?m surprised that they?re down right now ? but, you never know, this could go up in a week.”According to AAA Southern New England, the cost of regular self-serve gas prices in Massachusetts is currently at $3.48 per gallon, which is down for the eighth straight week.In AAA?s latest survey, gas was as low as $3.23 and as high as $3.89 around the commonwealth, with a national average at $3.54 per gallon.Mary Maguire, Director of Public and Legislative Affairs for AAA Southern New England, said the sharp drop in gas prices is largely due to the standoff between the United States and Iran from the spring.?Iran was doing a lot of saber-rattling and threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz, where 30 percent of the world?s oil supply flows,” said Maguire. “Whenever there?s a concern about disruption of supply or shipment of oil ? there?s concern that supply won?t be able to meet demand and the price tends to go up. Much of that price increase we saw back in the spring was due mostly to that. Once that situation eased, the prices started to come down.”Maguire said there were also concerns about some refineries shutting down on the East Coast, which were resolved. But while Iran was major factor for the spike in prices two months ago, Maguire said there a lot of factors that go into fluctuating prices, including unrest in Libya last year and speculators, who Maguire said place bets on whether or not prices will increase.?Those who invest in oil and energy products bet on the fact that oil will be scarce,” said Maguire. “They pour dollars into commodities like oil which drives up the price.”The world economy is another factor, said Maguire. With many countries struggling, Maguire said demand stays low.?Healthy, robust economies create more demand for energy products,” said Maguire. “The economy is improving, but the demand is certainly not what it was five years ago. Because of the problems with economies around the globe, that tends to drive down the price of oil because the demand hasn?t been there.”Lynn resident Priscilla Brea was filling up her Ford Explorer Friday, and said “it?s about time” prices have dropped.?I have to budget for gas especially with a car like this,” said Brea. “It?s a good $70 to $80 depending on how the gas prices are. It?s a relief, but it should go down a lot more. I?m hoping.”Rafael Diaz pulled into the station to fill up his work truck. Diaz owns Rafael Diaz Electrical Services and said low gas prices help both him and his customers.?You have to charge the customer for the gas that you use,” said Diaz. “It pretty much goes in my hourly rate.”For Jaime Hernandez, gas prices aren?t too big a concern because he said he does most of his driving around town.?It does matter when you?re going on a trip or something ? but when you live so close and you just use it to drive back and forth to work it?s not going to make much of a difference,” said Hernandez. “It does concern me because I?m paying $4. It does affect my pocket because I have three vehicles. But I?m much happier (that prices have dropped) because a dollar here, a dollar there, makes a difference.”After Hernandez drove off, a gas station attendant came outside to lower the prices on the big sign even more, this time from $3.38 to $3.35.Maguire said low the prices are encouraging, but noted the