Gas prices in third week of spikes as conflict continues
Media Release, AAA New Mexico
Gas prices continued to spike upward at a rapid pace for a third straight week in New Mexico and throughout the U.S., according to the AAA New Mexico Weekend Gas Watch. The statewide average of $3.83 is 35 cents higher than a week ago, while the U.S. average of $3.88 is 29 cents higher than a year ago. Both averages are likely to top $4 a gallon in the next week if gas prices continue their rapid rise.
The statewide average is 91 cents higher per gallon than on this day last year, while the national average is 78 cents higher than a year ago. Of the major metropolitan areas surveyed in New Mexico, drivers in Las Cruces are paying the most on average at $3.92 per gallon, while drivers in Santa Fe are paying the least at $3.84 per gallon.
“Oil prices continue to hover near $100 a barrel compared to less than $70 a barrel when the Iran conflict began at the end of February, and that has been pushing up pump prices by about three to four cents a day nationally and statewide,” said Doug Shupe, Corporate Communications Manager for AAA Texas/New Mexico. “So far, the New Mexico statewide average gas price has risen by nearly $1 a gallon since the conflict began.”
AAA Fuel Saving Tips
- Watch your speed. Fuel economy peaks at around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Reducing highway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can increase fuel economy by as much as 14%.
- Avoid excessive idling. A car engine consumes one quarter to one-half gallon of fuel per hour when idling, but a warm engine only takes around 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart. Where safe to do so, shut off your engine if you will be stopped for more than a minute.
- Regular vs. Premium. Pay close attention to the words “recommended” and “required.” If regular gas is recommended for your vehicle, that’s all you need. Choosing premium when your car doesn’t require it will only cost you money and doesn’t improve fuel economy.
- Remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle (e.g., trunk, cargo area, etc. ) as weight increases the amount of effort it takes to move the vehicle.
- Check and maintain your tire pressure. Maintaining the proper pressure will save you gas money as it takes less effort to move the vehicle and proper tire pressure decreases wear on the tires. Follow the recommended pressure as identified in your owner’s manual and/or a decal located on the driver’s side door.
- For road trips, map out your route ahead of time to avoid unnecessary stops. Pack enough water and snacks to hold you over to avoid spending extra cash on fast food.
- AAA has a free travel tool TripTik Travel Planner that lets you identify gas stations, EV charging stations, hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, and attractions along your route. That helps keep you on track and avoids unnecessary detours.
- Another handy tool for road trips is the AAA Gas Cost Calculator which estimates fuel costs for your vehicle’s make and model.
- Take advantage of fuel rewards at gas stations. AAA members can save at the pump over Spring Break by signing up for Shell Fuel Rewards®. Members who register now through April 30 will get 35¢/gallon off their first fill at participating Shell stations, and all AAA Fuel Rewards members will save 10¢/gallon during that time period, which is an additional 5¢/gallon compared to the standard Fuel Rewards discount.
On March 10, average prices are:
