It is here! Memorial Day weekend, in common parlance, is the unofficial start of the summer driving season.

Motorists venturing onto the highways and byways can expect to be greeted to gasoline prices slightly higher than this time a year ago.

Prices throughout The Times and Democrat Region are averaging approximately $1.30 per gallon for regular unleaded self-serve, up 8 cents from last year's $1.22 average.

This average, however, is about 21 cents lower than Memorial Day 2001.

Selected stations surveyed throughout The T&D Region Wednesday revealed the least-expensive self-serve regular unleaded gasoline sold for $1.259 at the Pilot and Phillips 66 Li'l Cricket at the Bowman exit at mile 159 on Interstate 26. Both stations are on Homestead Road.

Also, gasoline sold for $1.259 at the Shell E-Z Shop at U.S. 21 and Highway 22 near Interstate 26 exit 139.

In Orangeburg, the least-expensive was found at seven area stations for $1.269 a gallon. See survey for specifics.

The most-expensive surveyed sold in Bamberg and Branchville for $1.339 a gallon.

T&D Region prices are slightly below the state average of $1.331 a gallon and well below the national average of $1.503.

In her biweekly survey released earlier this week, Trilby Lundberg attributed the decrease to increasing confidence about Middle East oil supplies in the wake of the victory in the Iraq war. It is the fourth consecutive decline since gas prices peaked nationally at $1.76 on March 21, a few days after the war started.

Since Easter, prices in the Carolinas have dropped even faster than those seen nationally.

South Carolina prices have seen a drop of 13.8 cents a gallon since this date.

"In the midst of declining fuel prices, we want to caution motorists that gasoline is a very volatile commodity, and prices could go up any time, especially as demand increases for the season," said David E. Parsons, CEO and president of AAA Carolinas.

Falling prices are also expected to contribute to an increased amount of travel.

More than 385,000 persons, or a .8 percent increase from a year ago, travel some distance on the weekend that in 2002 was the most deadly for the state in five years with 11 deaths.

"What we've seen this year is a return to the automobile," Parsons said. "Motorists who felt trapped two months ago by high gas prices ... are feeling the freedom of the road."

The relatively low prices, Lundberg said, however could be coming to an end.

Crude oil prices have already inched upward due to low exports from Iraq and a recent decision by OPEC to reduce its output by 2 million barrels a day beginning next month.

Lundberg also cautioned that further increases in crude might be possible because traders have been understandably nervous since the May 12 bombings in Saudi Arabia.

As The T&D continues its weekly gas survey, we encourage readers to get involved.

If you know of a gasoline price consistently lower than those in our survey, let us know by e-mail at news@timesanddemocrat.com, by fax at 803-533-5595 or by phone at 803-534-1060. The prices must be consistently low for inclusion in the survey. Here are some of the prices found in the survey conducted Wednesday morning, May 21:

Orangeburg

-- Horizon E-Z Shop, Old St. Matthews Road: regular unleaded, $1.269.

-- Dodge's Store at U.S. 301 and Cannon Bridge Road: regular unleaded, $1.269.

-- Henry's on U.S. 301: regular unleaded, $1.269.

-- Li'l Cricket at U.S. 301 and Highway 70: regular unleaded, $1.269.

-- Horizon E-Z Shop, Shillings Bridge Road: regular unleaded, $1.269.

-- Speedway, Boulevard St. and Carolina Ave., $1.269.

-- Hot Spot, John C. Calhoun Drive: regular unleaded, $1.269.

-- Speedway, U.S. 21 and U.S. 21 Bypass: regular unleaded, $1.279.

-- Short Stop, Magnolia and U.S. 178: regular unleaded, $1.279.

-- Gaz-bah Exxon, Chestnut and Ellis: regular unleaded, $1.279.

-- Exxon, Charleston Highway: regular unleaded, $1.289.

-- Big D's Shell, Magnolia Street and U.S. 178: regular unleaded, $1.289.

Neeses

-- Fogle's Piggly Wiggly, Highway 4 and U.S. 321: regular unleaded, $1.269.

Bamberg

-- 3-Way Food Mart, Main Street: regular unleaded, $1.339.

-- Horizon E-Z Shop West, U.S. 78 West: regular unleaded, $1.339.

-- Horizon E-Z Shop on U.S. 301 South: regular unleaded, $1.339.

Branchville

-- Horizon E-Z Shop, Freedom Road: regular unleaded, $1.339.

Santee

-- Horizon E-Z Shop, Highway 6: regular unleaded, $1.329.

-- Citgo E-Z Shop, Highway 6: regular unleaded, $1.329.

St. George

-- Fast Point Food Store, on Highway 78 and Sears Street: regular unleaded, $1.309.

St. Matthews

-- Amoco, Highway 6: regular unleaded, $1.329.

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