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Auto Club: Southern California Average Gas Price Dips 4 Cents From April; First Price Decline in 2002

    LOS ANGELES--May 14, 2002--For the first time this year, the average gas price in Southern California declined from the previous month, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's monthly Fuel Gauge Report.
    The Southern California average price for regular self-serve unleaded gasoline is $1.61, down from the April average of $1.65. The current price compares with a state average of $1.62, which is down from $1.66.
    San Francisco area motorists now pay an average of $1.75, down from $1.79 a month ago. The lowest average price in the state can be found in Redding, where regular self-serve unleaded gas can be pumped for $1.47.
    Nationally, the average price for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline declined 1 cent to $1.40. Georgia has the lowest state average at $1.25 per gallon.
    "A decline of 4 cents from last month is an encouraging sign for motorists who are looking for lower prices as we approach the summer driving season," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "Our prices look even better when compared to last year when they were 17 cents higher. Fuel supplies appear plentiful and we don't anticipate any shortages through the summer months."
    In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:



County     City                    Unl           Pre

Imperial County

 El Centro                        1.686         1.892

Inyo County

 Bishop                           1.709         1.914

Kern County

 Bakersfield                      1.588         1.791
 Ridgecrest                       1.604         1.826

Los Angeles County

 Alhambra                         1.539         1.714
 Arcadia                          1.607         1.759
 Burbank                          1.587         1.812
 Culver City                      1.609         1.879
 Glendale                         1.594         1.827
 Glendora                         1.602         1.819
 Inglewood                        1.591         1.822
 Lancaster                        1.527         1.837
 Long Beach                       1.602         1.729
 Los Angeles                      1.608         1.793
 Manhattan Beach                  1.596         1.816
 Montebello                       1.591         1.712
 Santa Clarita                    1.579         1.739
 Santa Monica                     1.629         1.739
 Van Nuys                         1.567         1.736
 Whittier                         1.595         1.814
 Woodland Hills                   1.574         1.792

Orange County

 Anaheim                          1.594         1.809
 Fullerton                        1.563         1.752
 Huntington Beach                 1.587         1.769
 Laguna                           1.723         1.939
 La Habra                         1.536         1.724
 Newport Beach                    1.663         1.794
 San Clemente                     1.697         1.879
 Tustin                           1.639         1.879

Riverside County

 Blythe                           1.760         1.989
 Hemet                            1.604         1.799
 Palm Springs                     1.704         1.779
 Riverside                        1.589         1.700

San Bernardino County

 Redlands                         1.603         1.852
 San Bernardino                   1.603         1.775
 Victorville                      1.602         1.759

San Diego County

 Chula Vista                      1.601         1.776
 Del Mar                          1.623         1.799
 Escondido                        1.581         1.786
 Oceanside                        1.638         1.844
 San Diego                        1.626         1.826

San Luis Obispo County

 San Luis Obispo                  1.615         1.839

Santa Barbara County

 Lompoc                           1.690         1.842
 Santa Barbara                    1.663         1.899
 Santa Maria                      1.655         1.827

Tulare County

 Porterville                      1.606         1.724
 Visalia                          1.504         1.725

Ventura County

 Ventura                          1.622         1.859

                                  1.614         1.806


    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.