Auto Club: Slight Ups and Downs at the Pump; Price Increases Likely for July 4th

    LOS ANGELES--June 14, 2002--Gasoline prices stayed relatively stable last week with prices going up or down less than 1 cent per gallon, according to the Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
    The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips.
    Currently, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $1.572 per gallon, which is two-tenths of a cent lower than last week's price, 3 cents lower than last month's price and 42 cents lower than the price at this time last year.
    In San Diego the price is $1.591, which is three-tenths of a cent lower than last week's level, 4 cents lower than last month and 41 cents lower than last year. Motorists in the central coast have an average price of $1.662, which is six-tenths of a cent above last week's price, 2 cents lower than last month's price and 35 cents lower than the price last year.
    "For more than two months, with a few exceptions, we've seen prices trending slightly lower, week-to-week," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "While prices have remained stable, statewide, gasoline inventories have been shrinking -- down about 5 percent. As a result, it's likely that prices will begin moving upward by July 4th."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., June 14:

Area                        Regular    Change from    Record Price
                                        last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach      $1.572      -0.2 cents    $2.036 (5/25/01)

San Diego                   $1.591      -0.3 cents    $2.025 (5/29/01)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc                      $1.662      +0.6 cents    $2.069 (5/16/01)

Las Vegas                   $1.488      -0.8 cents    $1.885 (3/27/00)

Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.         $1.415      +0.9 cents    $1.720 (5/30/01)