The average price of regular gasoline hit $4 per gallon yesterday in the Richmond area, a new high.

The state as a whole hit the $4 mark Saturday and remained there yesterday. The national average rose a penny yesterday to $4.11, also a record.

On a positive note, however, crude oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange closed down yesterday $3.92, or 2.7 percent, to $141.37 per barrel, and gasoline closed down 9.13 cents per gallon at $3.48. Earlier, the crude-oil contract sank as low as $139.50.

A stronger dollar, weaker tensions with Iran and profit-taking contributed to the decline. Analysts were skeptical that the drop foreshadows a trend toward lower prices, particularly at retail.

-- Greg Edwards