TAMPA, Fla. - Oil prices fell last week after U.S. Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, said the increased oil and gas prices could slow the economic recoveries in both the U.S. and Japan — two of the top three oil consuming countries in the world.

The International Monetary Fund cut growth outlooks for the U.S. and projected its economy to expand by 2.8 percent this year, down from the initial 3 percent projected in January.

However, Thomson Reuters released a report last week that showed consumer sentiment increased from 67.5 in March to 69.6 so far this month, when sentiment was projected to increase to 68.8—a factor that could drive oil prices higher this week. Crude oil settled Friday at $109.66 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange—$3.13 less than last week.

“Last week’s dip in oil prices may be temporary as positive economic reports, such as the Reuters consumer sentiment report, tend to drive oil prices higher as they bolster investor confidence that demand may start to pick up,” said Jessica Brady, spokesperson, AAA Auto Club South. “Consumers will not likely see much of a decrease, if any, in retail gasoline prices this week, but instead a slowdown in the rate of increase.

“In the past few weeks, retail gas prices jumped an average 10 cents a week, with an average increase of 6 cents last week after crude prices fell.”

Both the national average price of unleaded regular gasoline and Florida’s average price are $3.82 per gallon, 6 cents more than last week. Georgia’s average price is $3.71, a 6-cent increase from last week. Tennessee’s average price is $3.65, 5 cents more than last week, respectively.