Auto Club: Gasoline Prices Show Mixed Bag of Increases And Declines

LOS ANGELES--Nov. 21, 2003--Southern California retail gasoline prices hit bottom and increased slightly in Los Angeles and San Diego while continuing a slight downward tick in other regions monitored by the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch.

Currently, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $1.723 per gallon, which is 1.3 cents higher than last week, 10 cents lower than last month and 13 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $1.735, which is nine-tenths of a cent above last week's level, 7 cents below last month and 7 cents higher than last year. Motorists in the Central Coast pay an average price of $1.821, which is two-tenths of a cent lower than last week's price, 10 cents below last month and 18 cents higher than last year.

"While inventories on the West Coast remain strong, demand has increased over last month," said Carol Thorp, Auto Club spokesperson. "As long as production and inventories remain stable, gas prices should remain relatively stable as well for the remainder of the year."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips. Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Nov. 21, 2003:

Area                        Regular   Change from       Record Price
                                       last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach      $1.723     +1.3 cents     $2.167 (3/22/03)

San Diego                   $1.735     +0.9 cents     $2.211 (3/20/03)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc                      $1.821     -0.2 cents     $2.233 (8/27/03)

Las Vegas                   $1.690     +3.2 cents     $2.063 (3/25/03)

Phoenix                     $1.568     -0.7 cents     $2.146 (8/26/03)