Idahoans paid an average $3.58 a gallon for gas in 2012, a record high that came in just two cents behind the nation average.

The lowest was $3.04 in January and the highest was $3.88 in September, said Dave Carlson, AAA Idaho director of public and government affairs.

Motorists are catching a break so far in 2013, however. The average price per gallon of gas in Idaho on Jan. 8 is $2.98 — the lowest it has been since Feb. 2011.

Prices in 2012 were affected more by hurricanes, refinery closures and distribution problems than the price of oil, which typically drives gas prices, Carlson said.

A weak economic recovery, lower demand and good inventories should keep pump prices in check, AAA says.