Call it an early Christmas present for drivers.

"I don't have to think gas or food," Alonzo Griffin said.

Gas prices continue to tumble across Mid Michigan and Mark Griffin, president of the Michigan Petroleum Association said that's good news for everyone.

"Our cost has come down from what big oil charges us as petroleum wholesalers and retailers, our cost has come down over a dollar a gallon now," Griffin said.

The price you pay at the pump depends on what the owners pay for the gas, but the last time oil was under $80 a barrel, the price you paid was a whole lot cheaper.

In fact, it was October 7th of last year when oil was $79.03 a barrel. Back then, the retail price of gas was $2.89.

Friday, the price of oil teetered around the $79 a barrel mark again --- but the average retail price in Lansing was $3.25.

So why the disparity? Griffin said it's timing.

"Big oil hasn't lowered their cost to us the same value," he said.

According to gasbuddy.com, it takes about three months from the time oil is purchased to the time you see the refined gas at the pump.

So that means we won't reap the rewards of the lower barrel prices until this winter.

"Good news, it's coming down," Griffin said. "Crude oil as it comes down, eventually our retail prices will come down as well."

Only time will tell how low they can go.