AAA New Mexico: Weekend Gas Watch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM--(Marketwire - November 21, 2008) - The statewide average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is down 18 cents since last week from $2.341 to $2.155, according to the AAA New Mexico Weekend Gas Watch.

However, the price of gasoline in New Mexico remains 16 cents above the national average which today fell below $2.00 to $1.989. That price is more than $1.09 less than this time last year.

The most expensive gas in New Mexico is in the Las Cruces area where prices are averaging $2.249 -- a decline of 21 cents since last week. The state's cheapest gas is in Albuquerque at $1.948 a gallon, which also fell 21 cents since last week. Santa Fe saw the most dramatic drop in the price of gas since last week, reporting a price of $2.154 which is a 23 cent difference.

"As gas prices continue to drop more residents may decide at the last minute to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend," said AAA New Mexico Corporate Communications Manager Dan Ronan.

New Mexico residents traveling to neighboring states this weekend can expect to see gas in Flagstaff for $2.424 and in Tucson for $2.048 a gallon. Those traveling to Denver will see gas averaging $1.836, and travelers in Amarillo this weekend will find gas at $1.787.

Approximately 41 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home for the Thanksgiving holiday, which is a decrease of 1.4 percent from last year's total of 41.6 million. Eighty-one percent of holiday travelers are expected to travel by automobile, 11 percent by airplane, and 8 percent by train.

Area        11/21/08 11/14/08 Difference 11/21/07 Difference  Date    Price
            -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- -------- ------
National    $  1.989    2.152   - 0.163  $  3.087   - 1.098 07/17/08 $4.114
New Mexico  $  2.155    2.341   - 0.186  $  3.094   - 0.939 07/17/08 $4.078
Texas       $  1.858    1.984   - 0.126  $  2.957   - 1.099 07/17/08 $3.985
Albuquerque $  1.948    2.160   - 0.212  $  3.020   - 1.072 07/17/08 $3.987
Las Cruces  $  2.249    2.460   - 0.211  $  3.046   - 0.797 07/15/08 $4.012
Santa Fe
 Area       $  2.154    2.393   - 0.239  $  3.073   - 0.919 07/07/08 $4.044
Flagstaff   $  2.424    2.640   - 0.216  $  3.150   - 0.726 07/14/08 $4.250
Tucson      $  2.048    2.258   - 0.210  $  2.913   - 0.865 07/20/08 $3.847
Denver      $  1.836    1.978   - 0.142  $  3.013   - 1.177 07/17/08 $4.006
Durango     $  2.220    2.480   - 0.260  $  3.179   - 0.959 07/18/08 $4.221
Las Vegas   $  2.176    2.329   - 0.153  $  3.144   - 0.968 07/21/08 $4.279
Amarillo    $  1.787    1.989   - 0.202  $  3.046   - 1.259 07/16/08 $3.983
El Paso     $  2.094    2.348   - 0.254  $  2.969   - 0.875 07/17/08 $3.967

Contact Information: Contacts: Dan Ronan Statewide/Dallas Ronan.dan@aaa-texas.com danronan@sprint.blackberry.net 469 221 8217 office 469 583 7070 cell Sarah Schimmer Houston Schimmer.sarah@aaa-texas.com 713-284-6552 office 281-797-7886 cell