LA Auto Club: Gas Prices Find Plateau Two Weeks Before Summer Driving Season
LOS ANGELES--May 10, 2002--For the fourth consecutive week gasoline prices remained virtually unchanged just two weeks before the Memorial Day holiday, according to the Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by the Automobile Club of Southern California.The Memorial Day weekend is considered the beginning of the summer driving season. 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 $1.606 per gallon, which is nine-tenths of a cent lower than last week's price, 2 cents lower than last month's price and 35 cents lower than the price at this time last year.
In San Diego the price is $1.646 which is 2.1 cents lower than last week's level, 3 cents lower than last month and 33 cents lower than last year. Motorists in the central coast have an average price of $1.683, which is three-tenths of a cent above last week's price, four-tenths of a cent lower than last month's price and 32 cents lower than the price last year.
"Gas prices appear to be in a holding pattern as they have dipped only about 2 cents during the past month," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "The beginning of the summer driving season will likely see a slight increase, but conditions seem to indicate pump prices will be near their current levels through the summer months."
Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., May 10:
Area Regular Change from Record Price
last week
Los Angeles-Long Beach $1.606 -0.9 cents $2.036 (5/25/01)
San Diego $1.646 -2.1 cents $2.025 (5/29/01)
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc $1.683 +0.3 cents $2.069 (5/16/01)
Las Vegas $1.485 -0.9 cents $1.885 (3/27/00)
Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz. $1.401 +1.3 cents $1.720 (5/30/01)
