BUSINESS MEMO: GASOLINE PRICES

The average price of gasoline in the United States dropped nearly 4 cents a gallon at the pumps in the past two weeks, the Lundberg Survey reported Sunday.

Lower crude oil prices and increased production were behind the decline, analyst Trilby Lundberg said.

"The retail price cut speeded up the past two weeks. Lower crude oil prices are the main cause, however, gasoline is also in greater supply," Lundberg said after examining results of Friday's survey of 10,000 gas stations.

Gas prices nationwide, including all grades and taxes, averaged $1.532 per gallon, which was down 3.89 cents from the $1.5709 average on April 7. That was down 2.5 cents from the year's high of $1.5958 on March 24.