Nevada gas prices drop 11 cents in a month

By Kyle B. Hansen

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011 | 12:25 p.m.

Gas prices in Nevada fell over the past month, with the average price of a gallon of regular gas now at $3.60 in the state, according to AAA.

Today’s average price is 11 cents lower than the price from last month’s report, but is still up 72 cents from this time last year, the auto club said.

The Silver State now has the ninth-highest average price in the continental United States.

Prices fell nationally even more, with the country’s average price now at $3.40, a 24-cent decrease from last month but up 59 cents from a year ago.

Fuel prices in Southern Nevada remain slightly lower than in the northern part of the state.

The average price in Las Vegas is $3.54, a 12-cent decrease from last month; in North Las Vegas the average is $3.56, a 10-cent drop; and in Henderson it’s $3.57, an 11-cent decrease.

The average price fell 13 cents this month in Reno, where it is now $3.68, and Sparks, now at $3.70. Carson City’s average price is $3.55, a 17-cent drop, and Elko’s average is $3.82, a 3-cent decrease.

AAA said the price decreases might be slowing as demand increases.

“Increased demand for gasoline and oil has helped to stall out recent price drops at the pump,” said AAA spokesman Matt Skryja. “In addition to demand, positive jobs numbers in the U.S., optimism about correcting debt issues in Europe, and a weaker U.S. dollar have all helped to bring a slow halt to dropping prices. As economies do better, or appear to do better, that typically drives up oil and gas prices as investors buy more of these commodities in anticipation of increasing demand.”