After spiking to $3.38 last week, gas prices in the metro-east are again on the decline.

Most stations in Belleville by Tuesday morning had lowered the cost of a gallon of regular unleaded to $3.19 a gallon.

According to the American Automobile Association, the National average for a gallon of gas is $3.30, about three cents higher than it was a month ago.

The organization predicts gas will be about a quarter a gallon cheaper in 2013 than it was last year largely because of increased refinery capacity in the United States.