Prices at the pump fell 0.4 cents overnight to $2.631 a gallon, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. That is down 6 cents from the peak of $2.691 reached Oct. 30.

But the gap between now and a year ago continues to widen. Prices are now 52.6 cents higher than last year at this time when gasoline prices slid along with oil prices as the recession took hold.

Higher prices for gasoline come even as demand for oil and gasoline remain soft.

For most of this year, oil prices surged as investors pumped money into crude contracts to protect themselves from a weaker dollar. Oil was seen as a safer bet with demand expected to rise next year as the world's economies begin to recover.

After hitting their lowest level in a month, oil prices bounced back on Monday. Benchmark crude for December delivery rose $2.55 to $78.90 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Stock markets in Asia and Europe rose Monday after Japan reported its economy expanded at an annual rate of 4.8% in the third quarter. That was the second straight quarter of expansion and the biggest rise since 2007.

U.S. stock markets also were up after a report showed retail sales rebounded more than expected in October because of a boost in auto sales.

Commodities such as oil and gold are priced in dollars so they become cheaper when the dollar falls.

Crude prices fell last week and U.S. stock markets rose as investors started to focus more on the continued weak demand for oil.

"That could be the beginning of the disconnect as the fundamentals weigh on oil," said Jim Ritterbusch of Ritterbusch and Associates.

Contributing: Associated Press writers Pablo Gorondi in Budapest and Alex Kennedy

Enlarge By Charles Krupa, AP Higher prices for gasoline have come even as demand remains soft.