Auto Club: Falling Demand Sends Gasoline Prices Lower
LOS ANGELES--Oct. 1, 20058, 2005--The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Southern California fell by almost 9 cents per gallon in the past month as motorists reduced driving after paying pump prices that topped $3 per gallon in September, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report.The Southern California October average price for regular self-serve gasoline is $2.943, which is 8.8 cents below last month's price of $3.031.
"All-time record-high prices in September had their effect on demand for gasoline in October," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "Most people can't reduce essential driving, such as commuting to work. But seeing gasoline prices above $3 per gallon apparently was enough for motorists cut back discretionary driving. As demand for gasoline dropped, pump prices followed."
However, the gasoline price dynamic may change this week as forecasters chart the course of Hurricane Wilma, which is churning through the Caribbean Sea. Currently, Wilma is expected to miss the beleaguered oil producing regions of Texas and Louisiana.
Statewide, the average price for October is $2.923, down 10.6 cents from $3.029 in September. The all-time record high of $3.054 was set on Sept. 9. The lowest average price in California is in La Habra, where regular is selling for $2.782. Blythe reports the state's highest average price at $3.201.
Nationally, the average price is $2.742, down from $2.956 in September. The least expensive gasoline in the country is found in Oklahoma City, where the average gas price is $2.242. The highest average price for gas in the United States in Wailuku, Hawaii, where a gallon of regular unleaded sells for $3.75.
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
County Reg 10-18 Reg 9-13 Pre 10-18 Pre 9-13 Imperial County El Centro 2.993 3.203 3.179 3.399 Inyo County Bishop 3.047 3.199 3.259 3.325 Kern County Bakersfield 2.889 3.124 3.115 3.336 Ridgecrest n/a 3.199 n/a 3.154 Los Angeles County Alhambra 2.891 2.924 2.979 3.039 Arcadia 2.939 2.990 3.179 3.229 Burbank 2.936 3.000 3.099 3.257 Culver City 3.022 3.089 3.179 3.542 Glendale 2.913 2.991 3.159 3.167 Glendora 2.825 2.963 2.959 3.149 Inglewood 2.888 2.977 3.099 3.159 Lancaster 2.964 3.060 3.029 3.249 Long Beach 2.891 2.967 3.011 3.120 Los Angeles 2.948 3.015 3.081 3.143 Manhattan Beach 2.952 2.942 3.099 3.079 Montebello 2.915 2.992 2.999 2.979 Santa Clarita 2.977 3.006 3.199 3.166 Santa Monica 2.966 3.063 3.195 3.359 Van Nuys 2.909 2.936 3.032 3.076 Whittier 2.883 2.940 2.913 2.977 Woodland Hills 2.949 2.998 3.165 3.215 Orange County Anaheim 2.786 2.904 2.885 3.008 Fullerton 2.773 2.907 2.935 3.082 Huntington Beach 2.809 2.951 2.993 3.146 La Habra 2.782 2.873 3.039 3.091 Laguna Beach 3.009 3.066 3.219 3.319 Newport Beach 2.977 3.052 3.173 3.259 San Clemente 2.981 3.038 3.206 3.212 Tustin 2.914 3.002 3.059 3.189 Riverside County Blythe 3.201 3.179 3.199 3.254 Hemet 2.959 2.999 2.882 2.959 Palm Springs 3.022 3.072 3.229 3.259 Riverside 2.881 2.954 3.055 3.122 San Bernardino County Redlands 2.905 2.942 3.202 3.179 San Bernardino 2.937 3.005 2.977 2.897 Victorville 2.995 3.070 2.926 3.081 San Diego County Chula Vista 2.939 3.016 3.121 3.316 Del Mar 3.034 3.052 3.326 3.199 Escondido 2.902 3.012 3.259 3.229 Oceanside 2.960 3.069 3.189 3.319 San Diego 2.976 3.042 3.190 3.243 San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo 2.985 3.061 3.246 3.386 Santa Barbara County Lompoc 3.002 3.084 3.239 3.279 Santa Barbara 3.009 3.113 3.146 3.079 Santa Maria 3.050 3.097 3.194 3.259 Tulare County Porterville 2.943 3.199 3.034 3.290 Visalia 2.943 3.175 3.166 3.299 Ventura County Ventura 2.927 2.964 2.945 3.012 So. Cal. Avg. 2.943 3.031 3.106 3.189
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. Editors, for regional average daily fuel prices nationwide, please go to www.fuelgaugereport.com.
