At a glance: Gas prices in battleground states

Gasoline prices are finally seeing their usual seasonal decline across most of the nation.

The average price for a gallon of gas fell 8 cents during the past week to $3.74. Drivers in some states are getting bigger breaks than others. In the Northeast prices fell from 2 cents to 7 cents. Meanwhile, in Ohio, a key battleground state in the presidential election, the price dropped 22 cents.

The nationwide average is still at a high for this time of year, and the price of gas was a topic in Tuesday's presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. What follows is a chart showing the one-month drop in gas prices in the nine states that are expected to decide the election. Below that is a chart of how much prices in those states have risen this year.

State Avg gas price current Avg gas price one month ago Change (cents) Change % Electoral Votes

Ohio $3.498 $3.837 -33.9 -8.84% 18

Wisconsin $3.657 $3.932 -27.5 -6.99% 10

Iowa $3.655 $3.863 -20.8 -5.38% 6

North Carolina $3.676 $3.840 -16.4 -4.27% 15

Virginia $3.566 $3.713 -14.7 -3.96% 13

Florida $3.687 $3.804 -11.7 -3.08% 29

New Hampshire $3.789 $3.907 -11.8 -3.02% 4

Colorado $3.690 $3.730 -4.0 -1.07% 9

Nevada $3.940 $3.832 10.8 2.82% 6

State Avg gas price current Avg gas price 12/31/2011 Change (cents) % chg

Colorado $3.690 $3.061 62.9 20.55% 9

New Hampshire $3.789 $3.239 55.0 16.98% 4

Nevada $3.940 $3.378 56.2 16.64% 6

Iowa $3.655 $3.156 49.9 15.81% 6

North Carolina $3.676 $3.255 42.1 12.93% 15

Virginia $3.566 $3.174 39.2 12.35% 13

Wisconsin $3.657 $3.265 39.2 12.01% 10

Florida $3.687 $3.313 37.4 11.29% 29

Ohio $3.498 $3.397 10.1 2.97% 18

Source: AAA, Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express.