HOPEFULLY, A CONTINUING TREND. TRIPLE "A" NEW MEXICO SPOKESMAN DOUG SHUPE SAYS THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE DROPPED 2 CENTS AND IS NOW AT 3-05 A GALLON. THAT'S ALSO 23 CENTS LESS THAN IT WAS AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR. MOTORISTS IN LAS CRUCES AND SANTA FE ARE PAYING AN AVERAGE OF 3 DOLLARS A GALLON. ALBUQUERQUE'S AVERAGE OF 2-96 IS 26 CENTS LOWER THAN LAST YEAR. THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS NOW AT 3-25, DOWN THREE CENTS.
