NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The price of gasoline went down a penny Friday as it continues its slow decline after sharp spikes in September, according to travel club AAA.

Diesel fell two cents and was down 36 cents during the last month.

The nationwide average price for regular unleaded fell to $2.342 a gallon from $2.352 Thursday, according to AAA's "Daily Fuel Gauge Report." The price is down 23 percent from the record high of $3.057 reached on Labor Day, following Hurricane Katrina.

Gasoline prices, which have steadily posted declines of one to two cents per day recently, are down from $2.854 a month ago but up from $1.981 a year ago, AAA says, a year-over-year increase of 18 percent.

Retail diesel prices, which had not experienced the same level of declines as gasoline, fell two cents Friday to $2.833 a gallon from $2.854. Diesel prices are down more than 12 percent from a record $3.239 set Oct. 24, but they're up 29 percent from $2.200 a year ago.

Gasoline prices have steadily fallen on signs that the soaring expense of energy is finally starting to curb consumption within the U.S., the world's biggest user of fuel.

On a state-by-state basis, AAA says Hawaiians pay the most for regular unleaded at $2.786 a gallon. Oklahoma has the lowest prices, at $2.077 a gallon.

The average price for a gallon of mid-grade gasoline fell nearly a penny Friday to $2.487, according to AAA. Premium unleaded also declined a penny to $2.577 a gallon.

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