Auto Club: Gas Prices Continue Month-Long Rise; Highest L.A. Metro Prices in 17 Months

    LOS ANGELES--Jan. 24, 2003--For the fourth consecutive week, gasoline prices in most of the Southwest continued their rise last week, reaching a level not seen since the summer of 2001, 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 $1.642 per gallon, which is seven-tenths of a cent higher than last week's price, 11 cents higher than last month and 45 cents higher than last year.
    In San Diego the price is $1.700, which is 1.4 cents higher than last week's level, 10 cents higher than last month and 40 cents higher than last year. Motorists in the central coast have an average price of $1.694, which is 1.2 cents lower than last week's price, 8 cents higher than last month and 40 cents higher than last year.
    "Prices in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area today are exactly where they stood on Aug. 10, 2001, during the spring and summer of price run-ups," Carol Thorp, Auto Club spokesperson, said. "Uncertainties of fuel supplies brought on by war fears continue to cause prices to increase. Unless the current situation changes, prices likely will continue their upward movement."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Jan. 24:

Area                        Regular    Change from    Record Price
                                        last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach      $1.642      +0.7 cents    $2.036 (5/25/01)

San Diego                   $1.700      +1.4 cents    $2.025 (5/29/01)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc                      $1.694      -1.2 cents    $2.069 (5/16/01)

Las Vegas                   $1.475      +1.6 cents    $1.885 (3/27/00)

Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.         $1.363      +0.6 cents    $1.720 (5/30/01)