(December 14, 2012)--By Monday, the national average should fall below the $3.2775-a-gallon drivers were paying on Jan. 1, according to analysts and the drop is a present for those planning to hit the road during what is expected to be the busiest Christmas travel season in six years.

But for the second straight year, Americans will spend a record amount on gasoline.

The government estimates that gas averaged $3.63 a gallon this year, 10 cents above the record set a year ago.