The national price for regular unleaded gasoline is down 22 cents from a year ago, the department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly survey of service stations.

Falling crude oil prices and dropping petroleum demand are pushing down gasoline costs, which have declined 98 cents in the last month.

In the EIA's weekly survey, gasoline was the most expensive on the West Coast at $3.05 at gallon, down 23 cents. San Francisco had the highest city price at $3.27, down 22 cents.

The Gulf Coast had the lowest regional price at $2.46 a gallon, down 27 cents. Houston had the lowest city pump price, down 35 cents to $2.41.

(Reporting by Tom Doggett; Editing by Christian Wiessner)