The average price for a gallon of gas in the Inland Empire has dropped more than a dollar in the past 15 weeks.

That doesn't mean, however, that people are driving more these days, experts say.

“Consumption is still low; it's still down there because we're a long, long ways from $3 per gallon,” said Automobile Club of Southern California spokeswoman Marie Montgomery on Friday.

The California Board of Equalization's most recent data show consumers purchased 1.22 billion gallons of gasoline in June, compared to 1.29 billion gallons in May.

Montgomery's agency reported Friday that Inland Empire drivers are paying an average of $3.59 for fuel.

That's down 5.9 cents from last week and $1.02 down from June 22's record-setting $4.61.

As he pumped gas for $3.45 at a Palm Springs Arco station on Friday, Darren Welker, 50, said he had no intention of driving more than he does now.

“I'm not being carefree at all,” the Palm Springs resident said while filling his Dodge Stratus. “The way the economy is, everything else is expensive. Gas is cheaper, but food is not.”

Gas prices continue to drop at a time when banks and other financial institutions are filing for bankruptcy or being bought out and in response the stock market is seeing record drops.

Although California prices are dropping, drivers in other parts of the country are paying more for fuel in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, which hit the Gulf Coast last month.

While California's average price closed at $3.64 Friday, Alabama's registered at $3.73, while North Carolina's average was $3.86.