Gas prices in Virginia have continued to drop closer to the average price from last year, with the price for unleaded gas in Virginia currently at $2.22, AAA Tidewater Virginia announced in a press release Monday.

That’s five cents cheaper than gas prices last week, and a 17-cent decrease from last month. Gas prices may be 17 cents more expensive than last year, but that price has been “shrinking steadily,” the press release states.

“Crude oil prices are at their cheapest point in a year,” AAA Tidewater Virginia spokeswoman Holly Dalby stated in the press release. “This is good news for motorists across the Commonwealth.”

As of Monday, the national gas price average is $2.44, which is four cents cheaper than last week and 16 cents cheaper than last month.

According to the press release, motorists nationwide can find gas for less than $2.25 at 38 percent of all gas stations.

On Monday, Gasbuddy.com recorded Suffolk gas prices that ranged from $2.10 to $2.29, which is the same range of gas prices in Suffolk that was recorded by the website on Jan. 29., and a decrease compared to the $2.19 to $2.35 range that was recorded on Jan. 22.