The average price for a gallon of gas in Michigan earlier this week was the lowest the state has seen all year.

The state’s average price of $2.96 a gallon on Tuesday was 15 cents lower than last week, just in time for more than 3 million state residents to hit the road for the holiday weekend. Prices last year for the week Christmas were roughly the same, just under $3 a gallon.

AAA reported that the average cost this week in Benton Harbor was $2.84, and said demand for gas nationwide had increased, while oil prices remained low. A further stall in oil prices could keep the prices low through the end of the year, if it happens. But on Wednesday, prices began to rise again across the region.