For the past several weeks, motorists have seen gas prices drop at local gas stations and officials say they could fall even lower.

AAA Mid-Atlantic reports the national average price for regular grade gasoline dropped to $3.56 Friday - down 5 cents for the week. Gas prices have dropped 38 cents nationally since their early-April peak and are currently 55 cents below the all-time record high of $4.11 set during the summer of 2008.

AAA spokeswoman Christine Delise said, "The pain at the pump that had motorists fearing record-setting gas prices this summer has subsided in recent weeks, with the national average price of regular grade gasoline dropping nearly 40-cents per gallon since its early-April peak."

The drop in gas prices is partly due to crude oil selling at $81 a barrel. Last year at this time it sold for $100 a barrel.

"Analysts continue to believe motorists can look for a break in gas prices this summer. Gas prices could fall to $3.50 per gallon by July 4th and perhaps into the $3.00 to $3.25 per gallon range later this summer," Delise said.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Maryland is $3.45.