LA Auto Club: Only Slight Increases in Gas Prices as Summer Driving Season Ends

    LOS ANGELES--Sept. 6, 2002--Gasoline prices increased slightly throughout the region as Southern Californians returned from vacation to work and school.
    The week-to-week price increase, which averaged less than a penny per gallon, included the Labor Day Holiday weekend, when many retailers raised prices, 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 $1.632 per gallon, which is four-tenths of a cent higher than last week's price, 2 cents lower than last month and 2 cents higher than prices at this time last year.
    In San Diego the price is $1.677, which is nine-tenths of a cent higher than last week's level, 4 cents higher than last month and 4 cents lower than last year. Motorists in the central coast have an average price of $1.724 which is nine-tenths of a cent above last week's price, 4 cents higher than last month and 1 cent below the price last year.
    "Typically, autumn is the time when prices begin falling because there is less demand for gasoline," said Carol Thorp, Auto Club spokesperson. "Soon refiners will begin switching over to winter formula gasoline, which is less expensive to manufacture and that also will help push prices down. The only variable could be tensions in the Middle East, which could send gas prices higher."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Sept. 6:

Area                        Regular    Change from    Record Price
                                        last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach      $1.632      +0.4 cents    $2.036 (5/25/01)

San Diego                   $1.677      +0.9 cents    $2.025 (5/29/01)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc                      $1.724      +0.9 cents    $2.069 (5/16/01)

Las Vegas                   $1.488      +0.6 cents    $1.885 (3/27/00)

Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.         $1.419      -0.2 cents    $1.720 (5/30/01)