AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — As outdoor temperatures rise, Maine’s heating oil prices are dropping.

The Maine energy office said Tuesday that its weekly price survey shows a 2 cent per gallon drop in prices since last week, to an average of $2.61 per gallon.

Energy Director John Kerry says sluggish employment numbers typically translate into lower demand for gasoline and other refined products such as heating oil.

Kerry says that the high temperatures in Maine are keeping thoughts of heating homes and businesses on the back burner, but it’s an opportune time to consider summer energy efficiency projects.