The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Southern California Gas Prices Move Upward, Again

22 July 1999

Southern California Gas Prices Move Upward, Again

    LOS ANGELES--July 20, 1999--The average price of a gallon of regular self-serve unleaded gasoline in Southern California edged upward 3.6 cents during the past month, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California Fuel Gauge Report.
    The July average price is $1.393 which compares with $1.357 on June 22.
    The Southern California average price compares with a July state average of $1.43 per gallon. The July national average is $1.17 per gallon -- up 3.2 cents compared with June.
    Travelers to northern California can expect to pay an average of $1.59 for regular, up nearly 15 cents from last month. San Francisco is higher at an average $1.69 per gallon for regular.
    Refinery woes on the West Coast continue to plague supply, according to oil industry analysts. State officials have allowed Chevron to produce regular, non-cleaner burning gasoline rather than risk gasoline shortages.
    Chevron continues to experience equipment problems at its key refinery in Richmond, where production had been reduced to less than a third of its normal 240,000 barrel a day average.
    Nationally, U.S. demand for gasoline continues to increase while crude oil prices have reached a 19-month high due to limited production by OPEC countries. These two factors have also contributed to an increase at the pump.
    OPEC nations say they won't consider any increase in production until March 2000. If OPEC countries hold to that decision, oil industry analysts expect prices to continue to rise.
    In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:


                                           UNL      PRE
  Imperial County

     El Centro                           1.5527    1.7165

  Kern County

     Bakersfield                         1.4293    1.6044
     Ridgecrest                          1.5543     n/a

  Los Angeles County

     Alhambra                            1.3203    1.5070
     Arcadia                             1.3543    1.5350
     Burbank                             1.3265    1.5021
     Culver City                         1.3955    1.5523
     Glendale                            1.3233    1.5104
     Glendora                            1.3528    1.4961
     Inglewood                           1.3750    1.5347
     Lancaster                           1.3630    1.4970
     Long Beach                          1.3114    1.4902
     Los Angeles                         1.3565    1.5174
     Manhattan Beach                     1.3905    1.5790
     Montebello                          1.3569    1.5440
     Santa Clarita                       1.4367    1.6247
     Santa Monica                        1.4414    1.5890
     Van Nuys                            1.2984    1.4552
     Whittier                            1.2733    1.4368
     Woodland Hills                      1.3467    1.5384

  Orange County

     Anaheim                             1.2841    1.4421
     Fullerton                           1.2900    1.4525
     Huntington Beach                    1.2522    1.4090
     La Habra                            1.2365    1.4378
     San Clemente                        1.4023    1.6570
     Newport Beach                       1.3765    1.5665
     Tustin                              1.3261    1.4832
     Laguna Hills                        1.3599    1.4628

  Riverside County

     Riverside                           1.3331    1.4878
     Palm Springs                        1.4024    1.5434
     Hemet                               1.3644    1.5790
     Blythe                              1.5301    1.7323

  San Diego County

     Chula Vista                         1.3972    1.5840
     Del Mar                             1.3958    1.5965
     Escondido                           1.3254    1.5247
     Oceanside                           1.3519    1.5383
     San Diego                           1.3872    1.5543

  San Bernardino County

     San Bernardino                      1.3935    1.5282
     Redlands                            1.4267    1.5490
     Victorville                         1.3836    1.5715

  Santa Barbara County

     Lompoc                              1.5370     n/a
     Santa Barbara                       1.5086    1.6777
     Santa Maria                         1.5133    1.6123

  San Luis Obispo County

     San Luis Obispo                     1.4828    1.6440

  Tulare County

     Visalia                             1.5069    1.7119
     Porterville                         1.5132    1.5890

  Inyo County

     Bishop                              1.5981    1.6990

  Ventura County

     Ventura                             1.4545    1.6265

  So. Calif. Avg.                        1.3936    1.5541



    The Auto Club's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 2,800 Southern California gas stations. The data is provided by Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information.
    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's emergency road service, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs and legislative advocacy. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.