AAA Reports Gas Prices Rocket 15.5 Cents Higher in Last Month

    ORLANDO, Fla.--April 17, 2001--Nationwide, the average price of regular unleaded gasoline has jumped more than 15 cents per gallon to $1.587 and could move higher in the weeks ahead, according to AAA's monthly Fuel Gauge Report.
    AAA said the large and rapid increase in fuel prices is mainly attributable to high crude oil prices, the industry's traditional switch from winter-grade to more costly to produce summer grade fuels and industry preparations to re-introduce a variety of cleaner-burning reformulated gasolines on June 1 in many major markets.
    These are the same factors that contributed to last year's record high fuel prices and they are expected to create similar gasoline price anomalies this summer, AAA said.
    AAA's monthly Fuel Gauge Report shows prices are highest in the West at $1.64 per gallon, up .04 cents in the last month. The highest price rise occurred in the Great Lakes states, up an average 23 cents to $1.62 per gallon since mid-March.
    In the Midwest, prices rose 15 cents per gallon to average $1.56 and increased 12 cents in the Southeast to $1.50. Prices in the Southwest jumped 11 cents in one month to $1.51.
    Motorists in New England and the Mid-Atlantic states are both paying an average of $1.52 per gallon, with prices up an average of 2 cents and 7 cents, respectively.
    This month the nationwide average price of gasoline is 7 cents higher than one year ago when the average price was $1.49 per gallon. April is the 15th consecutive month of gasoline prices above $1.30 per gallon.
    Nationwide, the price of self-serve, mid-grade averages $1.684 per gallon, an increase of 16.4 cents from last month, and 11.4 cents more expensive than last year.
    Self-serve premium averages $1.745, up 17 cents since mid-March, and 10.7 cents higher than one year ago.
    The national average prices for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline for AAA's April survey for the last five years were: 2000, $1.469; 1999, $1.15; 1998, $1.079; 1997, $1.253; and 1996, $1.24.
    AAA's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data from Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information.
    As the nation's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its 44 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for safety and security of all travelers.

    (EDITOR'S NOTE: a newly enhanced version of AAA's Fuel Gauge Report Web site with daily national, state and local fuel price information can be accessed from the AAA NewsRoom - http://www.aaa.com/news.)