Regular unleaded fuel prices dropped nearly 10 cents in two days in Bismarck, bringing the city two pennies away from the lowest price in the nation Wednesday.

Prices dropped from about $2.19 a gallon at some Bismarck stations to $2.09 a gallon for regular unleaded gasoline; the lowest price in the nation, Cheyenne, Wyo., is $2.07 a gallon for regular unleaded

"I can't speak to why the marketers are pricing their product where they are, but it's very competitive right now," said Mike Rud, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association.

Gene LaDoucer, spokesman with North Dakota AAA, said the unleaded gas prices in Fargo and Grand Forks both dropped 7 cents in two days, reaching $2.08 a gallon at some stations.

The average national price is $2.30 a gallon for regular unleaded, down three cents from Jan. 1. Across the state, the average is $2.26.

Falling crude oil prices are being reflected in pump prices across the nation:Since the middle of December, crude oil prices have dropped about $7 a barrel. Every $1 drop in oil prices generally translates into a 2.4-cent a gallon decrease at the pump, according to AAA.

Both LaDoucer and Rud said pump prices generally decrease at the beginning of the year, after the heavy holiday demand for gas has calmed down.

Rud said he hopes the prices will reach a level that satisfies both the consumers and the marketers.

"It's good news for the consumer. Let's hope it all balances out to where the consumers are happy and the marketers are happy,"Rud said.

(Reach reporter Crystal R. Reid at 250-8261 or at crystal.reid@;bismarcktribune.com.)