The average price for gas in Massachusetts is $3.839 a gallon in the latest weekly survey from AAA, 7 cents lower than the previous week’s average, AAA Southern New England said Monday.
It’s the first drop in prices since July, AAA Southern New England said.
The current national average is $3.80 a gallon. A year ago at this time, the Massachusetts average price was $3.55, AAA Southern New England said.
AAA’s weekly surveys focus on self-serve regular unleaded gas.
A recent Globe story quoted Chris G. Christopher Jr., an economist at the Lexington forecasting firm IHS Global Insight. According to Christopher, consumers should get a reprieve as people reduce travel now that summer is over and fuel suppliers switch to a cheaper winter blend, causing fuel prices to drop off.
Meanwhile, worries about weaker economic growth dragged down oil prices Monday. Oil has now fallen five of the last six trading days. It fell more than 6 percent last week.
Benchmark crude fell 96 cents to finish at $91.93 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices for other petroleum products dropped, too. In London, Brent crude dropped $1.61 at $109.81 on the ICE Futures exchange.
Germany delivered the latest dose of gloomy economic news, with its Ifo index of business confidence falling for the fifth month in a row.
Germany is an economic powerhouse, but 43 percent of its exports go to its euro partners. And growth is stalling across the other 16 countries in the eurozone.
Slower economies mean less demand for oil, pushing prices down.
Phil Flynn, a senior market analyst for Price Futures Group, said he was surprised prices have not fallen further. He said one reason could be that commodity funds have not been bailing out of oil.
Still, oil prices have been under pressure from worries about Europe. The dollar has been stronger, which makes oil cheaper for holders of other currencies.
‘‘You’re seeing demand destruction around the globe,’’ he said. ‘‘You’ve got Saudi Arabia saying they’re going to pump oil until the cows come home.’’ All of that drives down oil prices, he said.