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AAA Survey Shows Lowest Fuel Prices Since 1979

5 February 1999

AAA Survey Shows Lowest Fuel Prices Since 1979

    BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 4 -- The national average price of
self-serve regular unleaded gasoline has decreased to 97.9 cents per gallon,
the lowest price per gallon since an average of 96.1 cents in 1979.  The
current price is 18.1 cents cheaper that last year at this time.
    Locally, the price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline has dropped
12.3 cents per gallon since last Presidents' Day to an average of $1.027 per
gallon.  The current price is 4.3 cents less than in December.
    An oversupply of crude oil and refined products and seasonally low
consumer demand are the primary reasons gas prices are the lowest in
20 years.
    Travelers and romantics are gearing up for the three-day Presidents'
Day/Valentine's Day weekend.  Popular destinations include Victoria, British
Columbia; and San Diego and Palm Springs, California.  AAA Washington is a
not-for-profit organization with 13 offices in central and western Washington.
The club provides more than 603,000 members with travel, insurance, financial
and auto-related services.
    AAA Washington's Presidents' Day 1999 Fuel Gauge Price Averages

                          Area by Area Comparison of
                   Self-Serve Regular Unleaded Fuel Prices

    City                    Presidents Day         Holidays   Presidents'
                                       '99              '98       Day '98

    Bellevue                          1.053           1.088         1.169
    Bellingham                        1.019           1.086         1.157
    Bremerton                          .967           1.030         1.096
    Everett                           1.072           1.100         1.171
    Lynnwood                          1.056           1.093         1.177
    Olympia                           1.062           1.073         1.160
    Renton                             .996           1.034         1.192
    Seattle                           1.080           1.087         1.220
    Tacoma                            1.019           1.059         1.159
    Tri-Cities                         .935           1.005         1.081
    Vancouver                         1.022           1.066         1.145
    Wenatchee                         1.050           1.109         1.129
    Yakima                            1.015           1.079         1.136
    Averages                          1.027           1.070         1.150

    CONTACT:  Janet Ray or Jennifer Harbison, both of AAA Washington,
800-562-2582.