Average Gas Price Falls Nearly Twelve Cents Since a Month Ago: AAA Texas Monthly Fuel Gauge Report

HOUSTON--Oct. 1, 20034, 2003--The statewide average price for self-serve regular gasoline has declined nearly 12 cents a gallon since a month ago. The current monthly average in Texas is 1.397, compared to September's average of $1.512. Last October, the monthly average was $1.385, only 1.2 cents higher than the current monthly average.

Today's nationwide average price of $1.565 remains 11.9 cents a gallon higher than one year ago when the price was $1.446 a gallon.

"Prices have been coming down steadily since a month ago," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "A decrease in demand for gasoline and an increase in supply appear to be responsible for the price drop."

AAA's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data from the Oil Price Information Service, the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information.

AAA Texas, an affiliate of AAA National, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance service, insurance and financial products, travel agency, automotive pricing, buying and financing, trip planning services, and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' Web site at www.aaa-texas.com.

                  AAA Texas Fuel Gauge Monthly Report
             AVERAGE PRICE OF SELF-SERVE REGULAR GASOLINE

Metro                  State     Oct. '03  Sept. '03 Aug. '03 July '03
-----                  -----     --------  --------- -------- --------
Abilene                  TX         1.454     1.544    1.493    1.455
Amarillo                 TX         1.426     1.527    1.540    1.445
Austin                   TX         1.391     1.507    1.449    1.406
Beaumont                 TX         1.395     1.541    1.497    1.449
Brownsville              TX         1.358     1.429    1.444    1.394
Corpus Christi           TX         1.352     1.449    1.454    1.387
Dallas                   TX         1.454     1.559    1.505    1.454
El Paso                  TX         1.459     1.602    1.491    1.419
Fort Worth               TX         1.414     1.530    1.485    1.433
Houston                  TX         1.415     1.536    1.475    1.424
Laredo                   TX         1.341     1.488    1.429    1.402
Longview                 TX         1.404     1.484    1.473    1.397
Lubbock                  TX         1.374     1.503    1.497    1.446
Midland                  TX         1.415     1.518    1.484    1.458
Odessa                   TX         1.377     1.516    1.493    1.425
San Antonio              TX         1.359     1.475    1.440    1.402
Waco                     TX         1.357     1.489    1.451    1.401
Average                  TX         1.397     1.512    1.477    1.423