Gas prices dropped 15 cents in Bismarck-Mandan on Monday.
The price at several area gas stations went from $3.64 per gallon to $3.49 per gallon.
"The falling prices come at a good time for summer travelers," said Gene LaDoucer, a spokesman for AAA North Dakota. "This is a time when we normally see prices peaking or rising."
Jim Patton, the manager of Simonson Station Store at 1011 E. Main Ave., said the price was dropped there between 8 and 9 a.m. on Monday.
"During the summer, the price usually jumps before Memorial Day and stays up through Labor Day, so it's odd that it went down about a nickel before Memorial Day and then another 15 cents today," he said.
LaDoucer said prices have been steadily dropping for the last couple of months. He said March was the last time prices were this low.
"It's certainly going to catch the attention of motorists," he said.
LaDoucer said a sharp drop in crude oil prices has been the cause of lower prices at the pump. He said the price has dropped $20 per barrel in the last couple of weeks, but has started stabilizing in the low $80s range.
"Just 10 weeks ago, we were looking at a trend that would put prices near the $4 mark at this point," he said.
"The market changed quite a bit," said Randy Kopp, manager of Arrowhead Tesoro at 220 E. Boulevard Ave. "They just said the market went up today. In a couple days it might go back up another 5 cents."
LaDoucer said it often takes four to six weeks for the full affect of crude oil price changes to reach consumers.
"I think they can look forward to even lower prices in the next couple weeks," he said.
Patton said the lower prices are good for drivers and good for business.
"Today has been quite a bit busier than our normal Monday," he said.
Kopp lowered prices between 1:30 and 2 p.m. He said business had been steady but expected to see more of an increase overnight or this morning after people have left work.
Early on Monday, the state average was $3.52 per gallon and the national average was $3.60 per gallon, according to http://NorthDakotaGasPrices.com.
LaDoucer said there is normally a 10- to 15-cent spread between Fargo and other communities in the state.
"Bismarck has been running 9 cents higher than the state average for several weeks," he said.
Randy Schuette, the manager of Holiday Station Store at 905 E. Bismarck Expressway, said he couldn’t recall the last time prices had dropped as quickly.
LaDoucer said the last major drop in prices was in October 2008. Prices decreased just under 14 cents between Oct. 9 and Oct. 10. Over the 14-day period of Oct. 4 to Oct. 17, prices declined 75 cents altogether.
