NY -- Standard&Poor's CreditWire 1/28/98 – Standard&Poor's today assigned its double-`A' rating to Albuquerque, N.M.'s $44.38 million G.O. bonds series 1998A&B dated Feb. 1, 1998 due July 1, 2007. Standard&Poor's affirmed its double-`A' rating on the city's outstanding $166.6 million G.O. bonds, and $5.5 million G.O. water and sewer taxable refunding bonds series 1993C. The rating on Albuquerque's bonds reflects: -- An expanding economy based in services, trade, and government; -- Average income indicators; -- Sound financial operations and position; and -- Moderately low and rapidly maturing debt. Albuquerque (population 425,000) is New Mexico's largest city and economic center. Services (31.1% of jobs), trade (24.3%), and government (19.1%) drive the metropolitan area
