LA Auto Club: Gas Prices Still Down from Last Month, but Trend is Reversing; Uncertain World Markets, Low Inventories and Pipeline Problems Cited
LOS ANGELES--Aug. 12, 2003--While the average price of gasoline in Southern California dropped again compared to last month, the trend is being reversed due to recent concerns over the availability of Iraqi oil and tight gasoline inventories in the United States. In addition, a pipeline shutdown last Friday between Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., has caused spot prices in Los Angeles to spike.The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Southern California is 3.6 cents lower than last month, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's monthly Fuel Gauge Report, but various cities have reported increases of 3-5 cents per gallon on average in the past week.
The Southern California average price for regular self-serve unleaded gasoline is $1.727, down from $1.763 on July 12. Prices in most Southern California cities are down compared to last month, but up compared to last week. Los Angeles area prices have increased 3.4 cents per gallon compared to last Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2003. During the same week, Bakersfield climbed by 3.3 cents and Riverside climbed by 7 cents.
The lowest average price in Southern California is La Habra, where drivers can pump regular self-serve unleaded gasoline for an average $1.616. Blythe has the highest average price at $1.929. San Francisco Bay-area motorists now pay an average of $1.85, down five cents from July. Nationally, prices are up 5 cents since the July AAA survey and are now averaging $1.57 per gallon.
"Prices had been inching lower for most of the summer. This past week has reversed that trend, and the international oil market uncertainties, combined with regional refinery and pipeline problems, may keep prices on the upswing for a few days," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp.
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below: County City Unl Pre Imperial County EL CENTRO 1.798 1.979 Inyo County BISHOP 1.883 2.079 Kern County BAKERSFIELD 1.723 1.960 RIDGECREST 1.794 1.962 Los Angeles County ALHAMBRA 1.678 1.881 ARCADIA 1.682 1.902 BURBANK 1.675 1.879 CULVER CITY 1.772 1.969 GLENDALE 1.693 1.899 GLENDORA 1.691 1.881 INGLEWOOD 1.706 1.902 LANCASTER 1.673 1.849 LONG BEACH 1.729 1.911 LOS ANGELES 1.718 1.917 MANHATTAN BEACH 1.782 1.899 MONTEBELLO 1.700 1.939 SANTA CLARITA 1.649 1.799 SANTA MONICA 1.734 1.979 VAN NUYS 1.671 1.862 WHITTIER 1.726 1.866 WOODLAND HILLS 1.661 1.879 Orange County ANAHEIM 1.634 1.861 FULLERTON 1.651 1.779 HUNTINGTON BEACH 1.676 1.944 LA HABRA 1.616 1.799 LAGUNA BEACH 1.759 1.967 NEWPORT BEACH 1.757 1.899 SAN CLEMENTE 1.754 1.909 TUSTIN 1.689 1.947 Riverside County BLYTHE 1.929 2.099 HEMET 1.670 1.928 PALM SPRINGS 1.788 2.019 RIVERSIDE 1.687 1.857 San Bernardino County REDLANDS 1.714 1.937 SAN BERNARDINO 1.693 1.897 VICTORVILLE 1.677 1.879 San Diego County CHULA VISTA 1.735 1.909 DEL MAR 1.742 1.979 ESCONDIDO 1.685 1.879 OCEANSIDE 1.761 1.989 SAN DIEGO 1.759 1.967 San Luis Obispo County SAN LUIS OBISPO 1.770 2.003 Santa Barbara County LOMPOC 1.803 2.114 SANTA BARBARA 1.777 1.946 SANTA MARIA 1.774 1.937 Tulare County PORTERVILLE 1.808 1.999 VISALIA 1.761 1.939 Ventura County VENTURA 1.712 1.914 So. Calif. Avg. 1.727 1.927
The Auto Club's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 2,800 Southern California gas stations. Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information, provides the data.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
