AAA Texas: Weekend Gas Watch; Gas Prices Skyrocket to New Highs

HOUSTON--April 16, 2004--For the second straight week, all cities listed on AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch set new record highs.

The Texas average for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline increased nearly two cents to $1.670, with all cities averaging $1.66 or higher. Motorists in the Austin-San Marcos area, Beaumont and San Antonio are paying the least at $1.659 a gallon. Dallas tops the list, averaging $1.69 a gallon, up about a penny compared to last week.

"Since the beginning of the year, motorists have seen retail gasoline prices reach new record highs," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "A key issue appears to be the relationship between strong demand for gas and the ability of oil refineries to meet that demand."

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

Average Daily Prices as of 12:01 a.m., April 16, 2004:

                                        Previous            New
Area            Current    Change     Record Highs      Record Price
----            -------    ------     ------------      ------------
Austin -
San Marcos      $1.659   +1.0 cent   $1.649 (4/7/04)  $1.659 (4/15/04)

Beaumont        $1.659   +1.3 cents  $1.653 (4/7/04)  $1.659 (4/15/04)

Corpus Christi  $1.668   +2.8 cents  $1.648 (4/6/04)  $1.668 (4/15/04)

Dallas          $1.686   +1.4 cents  $1.673 (4/6/04)  $1.686 (4/15/04)

Fort Worth      $1.667   +0.7 cent   $1.664 (4/6/04)  $1.667 (4/15/04)

Galveston -
Texas City      $1.661   +0.7 cent   $1.660 (4/6/04)  $1.661 (4/14/04)

Houston         $1.661   +1.4 cents  $1.649 (4/7/04)  $1.661 (4/15/04)

San Antonio     $1.659   +1.9 cents  $1.641 (4/7/04)  $1.659 (4/15/04)

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.