WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Gas prices in Washington are trending lower as crude oil prices drop ahead of the holidays.

AAA reports that the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Whatcom County is $4.77. That’s nearly 20 cents lower from a week ago, and a full 50 cents lower from this time last month.

But AAA notes that at this time last year, Whatcom County residents were paying an average of $3.90 for that same gallon of regular gas.

As for the state, Washington’s average is down below the $5 mark for the first time in at least a month.

Diesel prices remain stubbornly high, topping out at an average of $6.78 a gallon in Whatcom County.

AAA says that crude oil prices have been on the decline for the past two weeks, leading to a parallel drop at the pump.

Analysts add that despite the good news, gas prices are at their highest on record for the month of November.