Retail gasoline prices took their biggest drop...

Retail gasoline prices took their biggest drop in more than a year this month, with the average falling more than 2 cents per gallon, according to the latest Lundberg Survey of 13,000 gasoline stations nationwide. However, pump prices were 8 cents higher than a year ago. The survey found that on Jan. 22 the average price of all gasoline was 97.66 cents per gallon, down 2.21 cents from December. At self-service pumps prices per gallon were: regular unleaded, 88.34 cents; regular leaded, 84.44; premium unleaded 103.35. The largest drop in 1987 came from September to October when prices fell 1.05 cents. Lundberg attributed the drop in pump prices to continued decline in the costs of crude oil and to the winter season, usually a time of less driving and lower gasoline consumption.