Southern California Gas Prices End Four-Month Decline
LOS ANGELES--Jan. 15, 2002--Southern California average gas prices ended a four-month long descent in January and inched upward by 2 cents, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report.The Southern California average price for regular self-serve unleaded gasoline is $1.19, up from a Dec. 11 average of $1.17, but still down 82 cents from the all-time high of $2.01 set in June 2001. The current price compares with a state average of $1.22, down 2 cents from December. While gas prices in Southern California rose, prices in Northern California continued to drop. Motorists in the Bay Area are paying an average of $1.32, down 15 cents from Dec. 11.
The lowest average price in the state moved from La Habra to Bakersfield, where regular self-serve gasoline is selling for $1.05 per gallon. La Habra follows closely with an average of $1.08 per gallon of regular self-serve gasoline.
Nationally, the average price for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline rose 2 cents to $1.13.
"A soft economy and resulting lower demand for fuel continues to push gasoline prices lower in many parts of the state," said Jeffrey Spring, Auto Club spokesman. "For the next several weeks, motorists can expect to see a pattern of a general trend toward higher prices coupled with occasional price declines."
Industry analysts say this is because the economy is struggling through a period of flat economic growth at the same time there is the normal low demand for gasoline that typifies the post-winter holidays driving season.
OPEC oil production cutbacks and trimmed output at the nation's refineries should keep the national gasoline price from retreating all the way back to the $1 per gallon mark, but motorists are likely to see a wide disparity in gasoline prices at local stations until a more definite economic trend emerges.
Lower prices returned to world oil markets this week as production cuts proved elusive, tensions in Israel eased somewhat and the war in Afghanistan entered what appears to be its final stage. The combined news caused crude oil prices to retreat from the $20 per barrel level seen last week to the $18 per barrel range today. This retreat will renew downward pressure on gasoline prices for the next few days.
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
Imperial County El Centro 1.345 1.519 Inyo County Bishop 1.419 1.507 Kern County Bakersfield 1.045 1.236 Ridgecrest 1.279 1.358 Los Angeles County Alhambra 1.084 1.219 Arcadia 1.172 1.319 Burbank 1.157 1.264 Culver City 1.206 1.314 Glendale 1.142 1.377 Glendora 1.091 1.299 Inglewood 1.135 1.282 Lancaster 1.207 1.399 Long Beach 1.117 1.316 Los Angeles 1.163 1.333 Manhattan Beach 1.092 1.276 Montebello 1.123 1.222 Santa Clarita 1.201 1.399 Santa Monica 1.182 1.409 Van Nuys 1.119 1.277 Whittier 1.111 1.279 Woodland Hills 1.170 1.356 Orange County Anaheim 1.118 1.320 Fullerton 1.126 1.319 Huntington Beach 1.116 1.314 La Habra 1.076 1.233 Laguna Beach 1.239 1.439 Newport Beach 1.170 1.429 San Clemente 1.240 1.369 Blythe 1.473 1.566 Hemet 1.168 1.319 Palm Springs 1.239 1.339 Riverside 1.154 1.288 San Bernardino County Redlands 1.191 1.349 San Bernardino 1.158 1.401 Victorville 1.165 1.352 San Diego County Chula Vista 1.276 1.484 Del Mar 1.294 1.396 Escondido 1.274 1.464 Oceanside 1.284 1.502 San Diego 1.299 1.462 San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo 1.252 1.449 Santa Barbara County Lompoc 1.283 1.348 Santa Barbara 1.237 1.434 Santa Maria 1.239 1.367 Tulare County Porterville 1.196 1.299 Visalia 1.050 1.293 Ventura County Ventura 1.258 1.464 So. Calif. Avg. 1.194 1.361
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.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs.
Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
