AAA Texas: Weekend Gas Watch; Retail Gas Prices Set New Records

HOUSTON--March 26, 2004--Despite drifting slightly lower last week, retail gasoline prices skyrocketed to new heights this week, according to AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch.

The Texas average for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline jumped two cents to a new record of $1.624. Although San Antonio prices set a new high this week, motorists there are paying the least in the state, $1.602 per gallon, up two pennies. Corpus Christi and Fort Worth both showed the biggest price increase of nearly three cents to an average of $1.63 respectively. Dallas tops the list at $1.64 per gallon, up nearly two cents.

"Retail gasoline prices in Texas hit an all-time high as the price of crude oil moved lower amid speculation that OPEC would delay its planned output cuts," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "Such a move by OPEC could offer motorists a brief retreat in gas prices."

AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for automobile trips.

Average Daily Prices as of 12:01 AM, March 26, 2004:

                                          Previous
Area              Current    Change     Record Price     New Record

Austin-San Marcos $1.607  + 1.9 cents   $1.598(3/9/04) $1.607(3/25/04)

Beaumont          $1.607  + 1.7 cents   $1.609(3/9/04) $1.610(3/23/04)

Corpus Christi    $1.625  + 2.5 cents   $1.625(3/6/04)

Dallas            $1.643  + 1.9 cents  $1.666(5/12/01)

Fort Worth        $1.630  + 2.5 cents  $1.660(5/22/01)

Galveston -       $1.623  + 2.4 cents  $1.653(5/16/01)
Texas City

Houston           $1.620  + 2.2 cents  $1.639(5/12/01)

San Antonio       $1.602  + 2.1 cents  $1.588(3/12/04) $1.602(3/25/04)

AAA Texas, an affiliate of AAA National, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance service, travel agency, financial products, insurance products and services, 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.