Gas prices slip from record
National average price for regular unleaded falls slightly to $4.104 a gallon; diesel hits new high.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Retail gas prices backed away from their record highs overnight, a daily survey by motorist group AAA showed on Thursday.
The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell four-tenths of a cent to $4.104 a gallon. Through the first half of the week, gas prices held at a record high of $4.108 a gallon.
Gas prices have surged roughly 40% in the past year.
Meanwhile diesel, which is used to fuel most trucks and commercial vehicles, hit a new record high of $4.814 a gallon, up one-tenth of a cent from the previous day.
Drivers in Alaska are hit with the highest gas prices at $4.613 a gallon. California comes in second at $4.54. Those two are the only states where prices top $4.50, though Hawaii is just pennies away at $4.476.
Hawaii also leads the nation in diesel prices at $5.383 a gallon. Diesel is also selling for more than $5 in four other states: Alaska, California, Connecticut and New York.
Missouri has the cheapest prices for regular unleaded at $3.896 a gallon, while Oklahoma has the cheapest diesel at $4.591.
Record high fuel prices may be causing drivers to rein in their fuel consumption.
A government report released Wednesday showed an unexpected climb in national gasoline stockpiles, which analysts say could indicate that drivers just aren't buying as much fuel.
And automobile giant General Motors (GM, Fortune 500) said Monday it was considering drastic cost cuts, including a possible sale of its Hummer light truck brand, as consumers turn away from heavier, less fuel-efficient vehicles.
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