Keith Bride had a long trip ahead of him. So he figured it was time to get a vehicle with better gas mileage.
The Madison, Wis., resident - who traveled this weekend to Bismarck - stopped in Moorhead Saturday to fill the gas tank of his new car. The car gets 35 miles per gallon, double the mileage of the pickup he just traded in.
Bride shrugged when asked about the $2.89 per gallon he paid in Moorhead.
The price of gas doesn't matter quite so much when your mileage doubles, he said.
A gallon of regular unleaded gas, which cost $3 and more at Fargo-Moorhead pumps earlier this month, was down to between $2.82 and $2.90 Saturday.
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A gallon of regular unleaded gas at the pump cost an average of $2.99 in Fargo-Moorhead and $3.02 nationally on Friday, according to the American Automobile Association.
North Dakota's average price per gallon of regular unleaded was $3.11 Friday. Minnesota's average price was $2.89.
Gasoline prices have followed the lead of crude oil. The price of a barrel of crude, which rose to nearly $71 late last month, has fallen to about $65, according to the Associated Press.
One factor in crude's recent decline: The International Energy Agency now projects that daily world oil demand this year will grow by 1.35 million barrels, 250,000 barrels less than predicted earlier, the Associated Press said.
Fargo-Moorhead motorists took declining gas prices in stride Saturday.
Jamie Reimche of Moorhead, who filled up with gas in Fargo, said she doesn't pay a lot of attention whether gas prices go up or down.
"Whatever the price is, that's what you have to pay," she said.
Kris Lofstgard paid $2.90 for gas Saturday in Fargo. That's a dime less than when he last bought gas.
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The Fargo resident said the lower price, though not a big deal, was welcome.
"I sure wouldn't mind seeing it go down more,' he said.
Michael Cullen didn't see any bargains Saturday, when he paid $2.90 for gas in Fargo.
Gas cost $2.53 the last time the Fargo resident filled up. Shortly after that, gas shot up to $2.79, he said.
Given that, he said, $2.90 doesn't seem so good.
"But at least it's not $3," he said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jonathan Knutson at (701) 241-5530
