ENERGY

Pump Prices Continue Decline: Retail gasoline prices dropped nearly 2 cents a gallon during the last two weeks, according to a Lundberg Survey of 10,000 stations nationwide taken Friday. The average per-gallon price, including all grades and taxes, was 130.39 cents, a 1.63-cent drop since the July 26 survey. Trilby Lundberg said the declines have occurred despite Congress’ failure to pass a temporary 4.6-cent cut in the gasoline tax proposed by then-Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas. Release of Iraqi oil “could ratchet down prices some more,” she said. She noted that gas prices are still about 8 cents a gallon higher than in August 1995. The average prices for self-serve unleaded were 123.65 cents for regular, 133.75 cents for mid-grade and 142.02 cents for premium. At full-service pumps, the averages for unleaded were 158.50 cents for regular, 167.29 cents for mid-grade and 174.11 cents for premium. Prices peaked in May and have been falling since.