Auto Club: Gas Prices Rise for the Fifth Straight Week

LOS ANGELES--Feb. 6, 2004--Gasoline prices rose again last week across Southern California, marking the fifth consecutive week of higher prices, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The national average for gasoline increased four-tenths of a cent per gallon.

Currently, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $1.812, which is 3.4 cents higher than last week. This price is 17 cents higher than last month and 12 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $1.836, which is 4 cents above last week's level, 16 cents above last month and 10 cents higher than last year. Motorists in the Central Coast pay an average price of $1.889, which is 2.1 cents higher than last week's price, 12 cents above last month and 15 cents higher than last year.

"We are approaching the time when refineries in California begin the switch from winter to summer grade of fuel. Accomplishing the switch and still maintaining ample supply is a difficult balancing act and that generally means higher prices at the pump," said Carol Thorp, Auto Club spokesperson. "The outlook is for higher gas prices for the next month, at least."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at metropolitan destinations throughout the nation. Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Feb. 6, 2004:

Area                                  Regular  Change   Record Price
                                                from
                                                last
                                                week

Los Angeles-Long Beach                $1.812  +$0.034 $2.167 (3/22/03)

San Diego                             $1.836  +$0.040 $2.211 (3/20/03)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc      $1.889  +$0.021 $2.233 (8/27/03)


The national average price of gasoline increased only four-tenths
of a cent per gallon last week as crude oil prices remained in the
$32-$34 range. Over the next 2-3 weeks, gas prices are expected to
ease slightly in most regions of the country.


Area                                  Regular  Change   Record Price
                                                from
                                                last
                                                week

National Average                      $1.627  +$0.004 $1.737 (8/30/03)

New York                              $1.836  +$0.003 $1.968 (9/6/03)

Washington, D.C.                      $1.679  +$0.007 $1.797 (5/16/01)

Boston                                $1.670  +$0.008 $1.812 (9/3/03)

Philadelphia                          $1.661  +$0.013 $1.807 (9/3/03)

Atlanta                               $1.555  +$0.012 $1.589 (3/18/03)

Miami                                 $1.686  +$0.010 $1.761 (3/18/03)

Chicago                               $1.752  +$0.010 $2.142 (6/19/00)

Detroit                               $1.658  +$0.007 $2.137 (6/20/00)
 
Kansas City, Mo.                      $1.470  -$0.006 $1.790 (6/21/00)

St. Louis                             $1.581  -$0.051 $1.767 (5/17/01)
 
Denver                                $1.507  -$0.012 $1.780 (6/5/01)

Dallas                                $1.568  +$0.006 $1.666 (5/12/01)

Houston                               $1.552  +$0.003 $1.639 (5/12/01)

Salt Lake City                        $1.589  +$0.011 $1.789 (9/4/03)

Las Vegas                             $1.751  +$0.015 $2.063 (3/25/03)

Phoenix                               $1.626  +$0.028 $2.146 (8/26/03)

Seattle                               $1.703  +$0.005 $1.969 (9/4/03)

San Francisco                         $1.913  +$0.015 $2.276 (3/19/03)

Honolulu                              $2.002  +$0.002 $2.054 (10/2/03)