CAMARILLO, Calif. - A national survey shows gas prices have dropped 15 cents a gallon in the last two weeks.

That's according to the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations nationwide, released Sunday.

Diesel was at $3.82.

The California average was $3.94, down 16 cents from two weeks ago.

Gas was cheapest in St. Louis, Mo., at $3.37 for a gallon of regular. It was most expensive in Anchorage, Alaska, at $4.34.

Despite the drop, gas nationally was almost 95 cents higher than a year ago.

Prices so far this summer peaked July 11 at $4.11 for a gallon for regular.

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SINGAPORE - Oil prices were steady Monday in Asia above $114 a barrel as a strengthening dollar offset continuing tensions between the U.S. and Russian over the conflict in Georgia.

Light, sweet crude for October delivery was down 5 cents at $114.54 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midday in Singapore. The contract tumbled $6.59 on Friday to settle at $114.59 a barrel.

"If the U.S. dollar is rising, commodities take a hit. It's been a huge factor." said Gavin Wendt, head of mining and resources research at consultancy Fat Prophets in Sydney.

Speaking at an economic conference Friday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said he would "act as necessary" to control inflation comments which helped strengthen the dollar against rival currencies.

A falling dollar encourages selling from investors who bought crude oil and other commodities as a hedge against inflation and weakness in the U.S. currency. The euro fell to $1.4760 on Monday.

Wendt said he expects oil prices to rise this year as global demand for energy, led by developing economies such as China and India, outstrip supplies.

"We may see this rally in the U.S. dollar continue in the short-term, but you have to differentiate between speculation and the underlying demand for commodities," Wendt said. "The majority of the increase in commodities over the last five years has been driven by demand from China and the emerging economies being so great that supplies haven't been able to keep up."

Supporting oil prices are ongoing tensions between Russia and the U.S. over Russia's brief war in the former Soviet republic Georgia.

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China has deported eight Americans detained in Beijing last week for demonstrating about Tibet during the Olympic Games.

The eight left China on Sunday while the closing ceremony was taking place after American officials pressed for them to be released.

Washington had voiced "disappointment" that China had not used the Olympics "to demonstrate greater tolerance".

Two other detainees, a Briton and a German, were reportedly also freed.

The eight Americans were deported by the Chinese authorities at 2100 Chinese time (1300 GMT) on Sunday on a China Air flight to Los Angeles, the White House said.

They had been among dozens of foreigners who evaded security checks to demonstrate in favour of Tibetan independence and were arrested on 20-21 August.

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The US has asked China to release eight US activists held for mounting pro-Tibet rallies during the Olympics.

In a statement, the US embassy said it was "disappointed" China had not used the Olympics "to demonstrate greater tolerance and openness".

The authorities say the protesters will be freed by the end of the month.

Before the Games, the authorities said protests would be allowed in three designated areas, but it never approved any of the applications to use them.

And rights groups claimed that some people were arrested as they tried to apply for a permit.

Olympic chief Jacques Rogge said in a news conference that the failure to grant any licences to protest was unusual.

As well as eight US citizens, China's authorities also continue to hold a UK national.

The UK Foreign Office has already urged China to free 41-year-old Mandie McKeown, saying China needed "to respect its commitment to freedom of expression".

Beijing says the activists will be deported on 30 and 31 August.

Several other foreign protesters have already been deported.

Although the organisation of the Games has been widely praised, rights groups have criticised the Beijing government throughout.

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