With a 70-cent decrease in gas prices since September, students and State College residents enjoyed cheaper travel during Thanksgiving break.

Gas prices reached about $3 in September in State College. Since then, prices have slowly decreased, and as of Friday prices settled at $2.10, Jim Martin, president of Nittany Oil Company, said. The company owns 13 Minit Mart gas stations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including two in State College.

Some students said they were relieved that filling up at the gas pump was not as costly as earlier in the semester.

"I was dreading driving home for break because of the high gas prices," Joseph Clark (sophomore-business) said. "I have a [sport utility vehicle] and it used to cost over $50 to fill it up. It really adds up after a while."

Clark said that he stopped using his car and started to walk and use public transportation more.

"I tried to use my car as little as possible; I just did not have the money," he said.

Now that gas prices have decreased, he is much more willing to use his car and disregard the buses, he said.

Sarma Pisupati, associate professor of energy and environmental engineering, said he was also hesitant to use his car.

"I would limit the number of trips I took. If it was not required I be there, I would not go," he said.

Opinions differ on the future of gas costs.

"I think they will decrease a little more," Martin said.

People and companies are finally getting back on their feet and getting into operation again after all the hurricanes, he said, which causes gas prices to decrease.

Pisupati said the gas price situation is volatile, and there is no certain method to predict what will happen.

Martin said sales were down 10 to 15 percent while gas prices drastically increased. However, business is doing much better now, he said, and there has been an improvement in sales since prices have decreased.

Steve Goldstein, manager of Five Star Suzuki, 1400 W. College Ave., said he also sees the impact of rising gas prices on business. At the dealership, which sells only fuel-efficient cars and SUVs, sales on cars began to increase as gas prices rose. "People are constantly trying to trade in large vehicles like SUVs, trucks and V8s," he said.

Pisupati said people would begin to shy away from fuel-efficient cars as prices decrease. They will no longer be as concerned with the efficiency of their cars once gas prices are low, he said.

Clark said the recent decrease in gas prices was a welcome change.

"I'm not sure if prices will go back up," Clark said. "But for my sake and other students, I certainly hope they do not."