Gasoline:Price Reductions Expected Through the Holidays

    LOS ANGELES--Dec. 14, 2001--For the 13th consecutive week, the average price of gasoline fell throughout Southern California, southern Nevada and Arizona, according to Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
    The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips.
    Currently, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $1.081 per gallon, which is 4.9 cents below last week's price. In San Diego, the price is 5.1 cents lower than last week's level. Motorists in the central coast are enjoying an average that's 3.6 cents below last week's price.
    "With the exception of a slight up-tick in prices in September, the average price per gallon has been on a steady decline since the beginning of last summer," said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. "People are asking if these prices will continue through the Christmas and New Year's holiday and we see nothing that will interrupt the downward trend through the early part of 2002."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Dec. 14:

Area                       Regular      Change from    Record Price
                                         last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach     $1.081       -4.9 cents     $2.036 (5/25)

San Diego                  $1.275       -5.1 cents     $2.025 (5/29)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc                     $1.199       -3.6 cents     $2.069 (5/16)

Las Vegas                  $1.186       -2.9 cents     $1.885 (3/27/00)

Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.        $1.121       -3.8 cents     $1.720 (5/30)