LA Auto Club: California Gas Prices in Near Free Fall

    LOS ANGELES--May 16, 2003--A downward trend in gasoline prices accelerated for the eighth straight week throughout the Southwest with falling wholesale prices getting most of the credit, according to the Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
    Currently, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $1.880 per gallon, which is 5.7 cents lower than last week's price, 24 cents lower than last month and 29 cents higher than last year.
    In San Diego the price is $1.859, which is 7 cents below last week's level, 29 cents below last month and 24 cents above last year. Motorists in the central coast have an average price of $1.971, which is 4.9 cents lower than last week's price, 20 cents lower than last month and 30 cents higher than last year.
    "The situation keeps getting better for Southern California motorists as we approach the Memorial Day weekend, which is the traditional beginning of the summer driving season," said Carol Thorp, spokesperson for the Automobile Club of Southern California. "Gas prices have dropped almost 30 cents per gallon in many places and the downward trend should last through at least the rest of May."
    The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips. Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., May 16:

Area                         Regular    Change from    Record Price
                                         last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach       $1.880     -5.7 cents    $2.167 (3/22/03)

San Diego                    $1.859     -7.0 cents    $2.211 (3/20/03)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc                       $1.971     -4.9 cents    $2.207 (3/22/03)

Las Vegas                    $1.797     -5.2 cents    $2.063 (3/25/03)

Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.          $1.757     -6.5 cents    $2.003 (3/22/03)