Auto Club: Pump Prices Continue to Rise But at a Slower Rate

    LOS ANGELES--March 22, 2002--For the 11th consecutive week, gasoline prices in Southern California, southern Nevada and Arizona increased, however, the increases were more moderate than the dramatic spikes from the week before, according to the 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 $1.525 per gallon, which is 4.8 cents above last week's price. In San Diego the price is $1.580, which is 6.1 cents higher than last week's level. Motorists in the central coast have an average price of $1.576, which is 4.4 cents above last week's price.
    The price for L.A.-Long Beach is 23 cents higher than prices a month ago; however, it is 10 cents below the price at this time last year. The price for San Diego is 21 cents higher than last month and 21 cents lower than last year. In the Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc area, today's price is 19 cents higher than last month's price and 23 cents lower than the price last year.
    "We're seeing higher prices all the way up the chain from crude oil to wholesale gasoline and at the neighborhood gas station at this time," said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. "It's impossible to predict where prices will be in the coming weeks. Factors affecting price will be the overall strength of the economy, continuing conflict in the Middle East and production by refiners."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., March 22:

Area                       Regular      Change from    Record Price
                                         last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach      $1.525      +4.8 cents     $2.036 (5/25)

San Diego                   $1.580      +6.1 cents     $2.025 (5/29)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc                      $1.576      +4.4 cents     $2.069 (5/16)

Las Vegas                   $1.335      +2.6 cents     $1.885 (3/27/00)

Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.         $1.235      +6.9 cents     $1.720 (5/30)