Average retail gasoline prices in Michigan have fallen 7.2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.51 per gallon Sunday. This compares with the national average that has fallen 3.2 cents per gallon in the past week to $3.43 per gallon, according to gasoline price website MichiganGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Michigan during the past week, prices Sunday were 22.6 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 1 cent per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 26.4 cents per gallon during the past month and stands 6.5 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

“With Thanksgiving just days away, Americans will be hitting major thoroughfares en masse. While gasoline prices have dropped in the last month and a half, the national average will still come close to breaking a record, the highest-ever national average for Thanksgiving,” said Patrick DeHaan, a senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com. “I don’t really see how gas prices could greatly improve between now and Christmas, given the new military action in the Middle East, and other pressures. It’s all but certain the national average will not drop under $3.25 per gallon, which could lead to a perilous start to 2013,” DeHaan said.