Auto Club: Air Attacks Have No Effect On Gas Prices; Pump Prices Dip Despite Opening of Hostilities

    LOS ANGELES--Oct. 8, 2001--The opening of the air campaign against terrorist bases in Afghanistan has not increased the price of gasoline in Southern California, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. Since Saturday, prices have fallen throughout the region.
    The current price of regular unleaded self-serve in the Los Angeles/Long Beach reporting area is $1.546 per gallon, nine-tenths of a cent lower than the price on Saturday. The price in San Diego is a half-cent lower than Saturday's average price. The price for Central Coast motorists is one cent lower. Bakersfield saw the steepest fall, with the price of gasoline dropping 2.5 cents since the weekend.
    "Internationally and domestically, oil producers and gasoline refiners have anticipated the opening of hostilities since the terrorist attacks on September 11 and most made preparations to keep product in the pipeline," said Jeffrey Spring, Auto Club spokesman. "Market conditions have not changed, meaning there is ample supply of gasoline. When you couple that with a softening demand, it tends to push prices lower."

Average prices as of 10 a.m. Oct. 8.

Area                    Regular       Change Since       Record Price
                                      Saturday

Los Angeles-
Long Beach               $1.546         -.90 cents   $2.036 (set 5/25)

San Diego                $1.685         -.50 cents       $2.025 (5/29)

Santa Barbara-Santa 
Maria-Lompoc             $1.679         -1.0 cents       $2.069 (5/16)

Bakersfield              $1.537         -2.5 cents       $2.003 (5/16)