The price of oil fell to just over $86 dollars a barrel Thursday, and the average price of a gallon of gas in Daytona Beach was listed at just over $3.50.

At the Circle K on the corner of Big Tree and Nova roads, the price nose-dived from $3.35 per gallon to $3.29 in a matter of a few hours Thursday, catching Harry Keaton by surprise.

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"I can't believe it, $3.29," he said as he prepared to top off the tank of his trike. "That is great."

Keaton isn't convinced prices will stay low, saying gas will likely creep up to $5 per gallon and then consumers will be glad to see $3-plus prices.

Some voiced other views of the price drop:

· "I am not that pleased," said Emily Hopkins, 27, of Port Orange. "It is a signal the dollar is falling."

She said the up-and-down price of gasoline is a symptom of the failing economy and a stock market based on oil rather than gold as she believes it was in the past. And so, said Hopkins, when stocks go up, oil prices increase, and when they fall, oil falls.

· "Prices are all over the board," said Ken Gann, 64, of Ormond Beach. "Just down the street it is $3.59."

The bottom line in his mind is business is out to get what it can get.

· "I would love to think the falling price is happening because people aren't doing as much racing around," said Port Orange resident Pat Belus, 63. But she added, in the end, "I think the oil companies are getting what they can out of it."

mark.johnson@news-jrnl.com

Area gasoline prices

The average price of gasoline in the Volusia-Flagler market has dropped sharply since hitting a peak of $4.11 on July 17. Here's the latest for self-serve, regular unleaded in the two-county area.

THURSDAY: $3.50

WEDNESDAY: $3.54

SEPT. 9: $3.70

OCT. 9, 2007: $2.85

SOURCE: AAA Daily Fuel Gauge

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