AAA TEXAS: Weekend Gas Watch; Statewide Average Holds Steady Despite Talk of War

    HOUSTON--Sept. 27, 2002--The statewide average price for regular self-serve has not budged despite talk of war, according to the Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by AAA Texas. The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips.
    The Texas average remains $1.34 -- the same as last week. The Austin - San Marcos area showed the biggest gain, although a very slight one -- up seven-tenths of a cent to $1.31 a gallon. San Antonio still has the least expensive fuel averaging $1.30 a gallon. While some cities saw increases, Corpus Christi and the Fort Worth area dropped slightly. Dallas edged out the other cities to top the list at $1.35 a gallon.
    "We've seen the price of oil top $31 a barrel this week -- the highest price in more than a year. This increase, however, has yet to translate into higher prices for consumers," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "But, the growing threat of military action against Iraq by the United States, Great Britain and other nations could mean that motorists may soon see prices rise at the pumps."

	   Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Sept. 27, 2002:

                                     Change from
Area                    Regular       last week        Record Price
----                    -------      -----------       ------------
Austin - San Marcos     $1.307        +0.7 cent      $1.538 (5/15/01)

Corpus Christi          $1.312        -0.2 cent      $1.505 (5/8/01)

Dallas                  $1.345        +0.1 cent      $1.666 (5/12/01)

Ft. Worth               $1.338        -0.2 cent      $1.660 (5/22/01)

Houston                 $1.337        +0.3 cent      $1.639 (5/12/01)

San Antonio             $1.295        +0.5 cent      $1.498 (5/9/01)

    AAA Texas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas' members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance service, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing, trip planning services, and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' Web site at www.aaa-texas.com.