AAA Texas: Weekend Gas Watch; Gasoline Prices on Upswing after Hurricane Rita

HOUSTON--Sept. 30, 2005--Gasoline prices have reversed course and are now on the upswing following Hurricane Rita, according to AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch.

The Texas average price for regular self-serve jumped ten cents to $2.774 a gallon -- that's nearly a dollar higher than last year's record high of $1.823 a gallon. Beaumont is the only city that posted a decrease this week due to lack of demand in the affected area.

"The gasoline market in Texas is on an upward trend that may change once the refineries are back on line," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "Unless another hurricane moves in and causes more supply disruptions, retail prices should start to move lower once the facilities have re-started."

The national average for regular self-serve gasoline is $2.815 a gallon -- a weekly increase of almost seven cents.

AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for automobile trips.

Average Daily Prices as of 12:01 a.m., September 30, 2005:

                          Weekly                                2004
Area           9/29/05    Change     9/23/05    Record High    Average
-------------- -------- ------------ -------- --------------- --------
National        $2.815   +6.7 cents   $2.748  $3.057 (9/5/05)  $1.912
State           $2.774  +10.7 cents   $2.667  $2.964 (9/4/05)  $1.823
Austin-San
 Marcos         $2.694   +4.5 cents   $2.649  $2.918 (9/6/05)  $1.806
Beaumont        $2.605   -3.5 cents   $2.640  $2.930 (9/4/05)  $1.799
Corpus Christi  $2.737  +17.7 cents   $2.560  $2.929 (9/3/05)  $1.806
Dallas          $2.824  +11.8 cents   $2.706  $3.019 (9/4/05)  $1.832
Ft. Worth       $2.833  +14.6 cents   $2.687  $3.012 (9/4/05)  $1.818
Galveston/Texas
 City           $2.785    No Change   $2.785  $2.997 (9/4/05)  $1.801
Houston         $2.790   +6.0 cents   $2.730  $2.971 (9/6/05)  $1.796
San Antonio     $2.672   +9.2 cents   $2.580  $2.909 (9/4/05)  $1.786