Feds: Labor Day gas prices are lowest since 2004

Gasoline prices will be cheaper this weekend than for any Labor Day weekend since 2004, federal researchers reported on Friday.

The average price of gasoline was $2.51 per gallon on Monday, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said, the lowest price for a Monday before Labor Day since gas was $1.87 per gallon in 2004. The gas price on the same day last year was $3.45 per gallon. 

{mosads}The data reflects predictions from the auto group AAA, which said Thursday that the national price of gasoline would fall to $2.44 over the weekend, which is nearly $1 cheaper than last year.

EIA blamed the low prices on weak crude oil prices, which it said are the result of slow economic growth in global markets, a flood of new oil expected from Iran after sanctions are lifted on the country and growing oil inventories around the world. 

Weekend gas prices are topping $3.00 on the West Coast, the EIA said, and are as low as $2.20 in the Gulf Coast region.

The agency said it expects average gas prices to dip to $2.11 per gallon by the end of the year.   

AAA predicts 35.5 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles over the Labor Day weekend and spend $1 billion less on gas than last year.