FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 3, 2009





(Albuquerque, New Mexico; April 3, 2009) --- Gasoline prices in New Mexico remained near $2.06 a gallon. In one week, a gallon of gasoline increased a fraction of a penny from $2.064 last week to $2.067 a gallon today.  The national average is $2.04, up more than three cents since last week.



Gasoline prices in Albuquerque saw no change and stayed at $2.01, while Las Cruces showed a decrease of four cents with prices settling at $1.965.  Santa Fe prices increased two cents with prices at $2.04.  Gas in Santa Fe is the most expensive in the state and the least expensive is in Las Cruces.



Even though world and national oil supplies remain plentiful, oil prices have been increasing. As early as Monday, oil was trading in the $48.00 a barrel range.  Today at mid-day on the NYMEX Exchange, it has been as high as $51 dollars. Oil prices are up nearly 21% since the beginning of 2009.

According to AAA National, two other factors are increasing prices. Because of the recession, oil refiners have cut capacity to keep the markets from being glutted with gasoline. This is also the time of year when refiners must change their gasoline from winter blend to the cleaner burning spring and summer products to reduce air pollution. Because of the additional additives, those products cost more to produce. The Oil Price Information Service says oil markets are also looking for any good economic news it can find and when it comes to gas prices “nickels and dimes are the new penny.”

“While gasoline prices have increased more than 40 cents nationally since their all time low in late December, it’s important to note compared to a year ago, motorists are saving a substantial amount of money.  The Oil Price Information Service calculates an average driver, using 50 gallons a month, will probably save between $75 and $100 a month compared to last summer, should gasoline prices stay in the range between $2.00 and $2.25 a gallon,” says AAA New Mexico Spokesperson Sarah Schimmer.



Area    4/3/09  3/26/09 Difference      4/3/08  Difference      Date    Price 
National        $2.041  $2.009  +0.032  $3.289  -1.248  07/17/08        $4.114
New Mexico      $2.067  $2.064  +0.003  $3.292  -1.225  07/17/08        $4.078
Texas   $1.973  $1.927  +0.046  $3.214  -1.241  07/17/08        $3.985
Albuquerque     $2.012  $2.012  0.000   $3.201  -1.189  07/17/08        $3.987
Las Cruces      $1.965  $2.002   -0.037 $3.272  -1.307  07/15/08        $4.012
Santa Fe Area   $2.039  $2.017  +0.022  $3.300  -1.261  07/07/08        $4.044
Flagstaff       $2.140  $2.150  -0.010  $3.383  -1.243  07/14/08        $4.250
Tucson  $1.824  $1.794  +0.030  $3.158  -1.334  07/20/08        $3.847
Denver  $1.951  $1.915  +0.036  $3.195  -1.244  07/17/08        $4.006
Durango $2.136  $2.110   +0.026 $3.381  -1.245  07/18/08        $4.221
Las Vegas       $2.119  $2.113  +0.006  $3.370  -1.251  07/21/08        $4.279
Amarillo        $1.926  $1.938  -0.012  $3.246  -1.320  07/16/08        $3.983
El Paso $1.959  $1.986  -0.027  $3.179  -1.220  07/17/08        $3.967