AUGUSTA (AP) – The state energy office says the average price of home heating oil in Maine dropped a penny last week for the third consecutive decrease.

The state energy office reported Monday that the average cash price for home heating oil stands at $3.21, a drop of 12 cents over three weeks. The average statewide price remains 94 cents higher than at the same time last year.

The state survey found the lowest price of $2.36 in eastern Maine and the highest price of $3.40 in eastern and western regions.

Officials say the drop in price coincided with declining cost of crude oil on world markets, which is now about $89 per barrel.

New England heating oil inventories remain slightly lower than at the same time last year.

AP-ES-02-04-08 1614EST