Santa Fe gas prices decrease for third straight week; lowest in state at end of April

Apr. 29—Santa Fe-area gas prices have dropped for a third straight week, averaging $3.13 at the end of April for a gallon of unleaded fuel, which makes it the area of New Mexico with the lowest average.

That's according to AAA New Mexico Weekend Gas Watch, which says the prices in the area dropped by 5 cents from the middle of the month and 55 cents from a year ago, when a gallon of gas was averaging $3.68 a gallon.

Statewide, the price of a gallon of gas decreased for a second straight week and is averaging $3.23. Nationally, the average is $3.66.

For the Santa Fe area, however, the decrease from a week ago amounts to the largest drop in the state, with Farmington seeing a decline of 3 cents for an average of $3.31.

Albuquerque, which has the second-lowest gas prices in New Mexico, averaged $3.18 a gallon at the end of April, while Las Cruces had the highest average price at $3.35; both cities only saw a 1-cent decrease from the previous week.

AAA spokesman Daniel Armbruster said the cost of oil over the past few weeks reached the upper $80s per barrel due to tensions in the Middle East but has since declined to the lower $80s. He said prices tend to drop a bit this time of year because it falls between the end of spring break and the beginning of Memorial Day weekend.

"Crude oil has come down in price and demand has slowed, which is keeping further gas price increases at bay," Armbruster said. "Drivers can anticipate pump price fluctuations through the remainder of April."

New Mexico's average remains in line with Texas ($3.25) and Colorado ($3.13) but is lower than neighboring Arizona, which saw an average of $4.09, according to AAA.

California continues to see some of the highest averages, with a gallon of fuel averaging $5.40 at the end of April. Mississippi had the lowest average at $3.09, according to AAA.