Average price per gallon drops below $3 in NC

Exhausted holiday shoppers with thinned-out wallets are finally catching a break at the gas pump. At 3 a.m. Thursday, we learned gas prices reached a milestone we haven't seen for a long time.

The average price for a gallon in North Carolina is now below $3.

We've seen a steady drop recently. GasBuddy predicts the national average will fall below $3 by Christmas.

The new average price per gallon in NC is $2.99, compared to the national average, which is $3.19.

The WRAL Fuel Tracker can help you find the lowest gas prices near you.