The nation’s average price of gasoline has fallen 5.7 cents over the last week and stands at $2.79 per gallon, according to GasBuddy® data compiled from mo

Christmas travelers are getting a major break at the pump this year.Gas prices have hit their lowest level in four years, leaving a little extra room in the budget for everything else that comes with the season.

Holiday travelers are finding relief at gas stations across Ohio as fuel prices drop significantly from last year, even as roads see increased traffic volumes.

The national average is down 26.4 cents from a month ago and is 21.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago according to GasBuddy data.

Here's a look at how weekly regional gas prices changed in Lower Atlantic last week compared with the week prior.

Consumers are just in this, whatever the highest price is, is the price they're going to focus on,” Harvard professor Jason Furman said.

However, most states are still hovering around the $3 mark, with the White House reporting that average gas prices have slipped below $3 per gallon in 40 states, under $2.75 per gallon in 24 states, and to less than $2.50 per gallon in nine states.

U.S. natural gas futures surged the most since late October as one energy trader warned that "winter isn't over," with another wave of cold air set to spill into the eastern half of the Lower 48 early next week.