HOUSTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Fuel prices in gas stations in the southern U.S. city of Houston are falling slightly before the busy Thanksgiving travel week but remain high, according to GasBuddy, a company that tracks American gasoline costs, on Monday.
The average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in the Houston area is down to 2.21 U.S. dollars, while the national average dipped to 2.54 dollars. GasBuddy projects the average may fall 1 cent more in the next day or two.
"This year has been unique at the pumps. Gas prices spent much of the time in the weeks approaching Thanksgiving by rising when typically, they would be on a sizeable downward trend," said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
Thanksgiving fuel prices are usually relatively low due to cheaper winter-grade fuel, but this year they stands at their highest levels since 2014.
Fuel costs in Houston and throughout the nation have remained higher since Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas Gulf Coast in August.
Harvey knocked out nearly a quarter of the nation's oil refining capacity that pump out fuel, causing gasoline costs to surge nearly 20 percent, but nearly all of that refining capacity has returned normal.
However, the average cost of a gallon of gasoline in the Houston area is still 11 cents higher than that before Harvey, while the national average is about 21 cents above its pre-storms average.
