Ticker: Bay State gas prices drop; Grain shipments out of Ukraine slow

The price at the pump dropped 4 cents in Massachusetts over the past week, landing at $3.34 a gallon in the most recent survey by AAA.

Monday’s price was the same as a month ago and 20 cents cheaper than a year ago.

Gas in Massachusetts is 7 cents lower than the national average which now sits at $3.41 per gallon.

“The U.S. is awash in crude oil with inventories building by 16 million barrels last week. This will put downward pressure on prices overall. Even as refineries are shutting down for planned and unplanned maintenance, it has not contributed to a tighter market so far,” said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast Vice President of Public Affairs.

Monday’s national average is two cents higher than a month ago, and 12 cents cheaper than a year ago, according to AAA.

Grain shipments out of Ukraine slow

The amount of grain leaving Ukraine has dropped even as a U.N.-brokered deal works to keep food flowing to developing nations nearly a year into Russia’s invasion.

It comes after inspections of ships have fallen to half what they were four months ago and a backlog of vessels has grown.

The Joint Coordination Center says Ukraine’s food exports have dropped from 3.7 million metric tons in December to 3 million in January. The hurdles come as separate agreements to keep supplies moving from the warring nations are coming up for renewal next month.

Ukrainian and some U.S. officials are blaming Russia for slowing down inspections, which Moscow has denied. Less wheat, barley and other grain getting out of Ukraine, dubbed the “breadbasket of the world, ” raises concerns about the impact to those going hungry in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia — places that rely on affordable food supplies from the Black Sea region.