LA Auto Club: Gasoline Prices Trending Lower; Central Coast Bucks Trend with New Record High

LOS ANGELES--April 29, 2005--Gasoline prices moved lower for the second straight week through most of Southern California according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The only exception to the lower price trend was the Central Coast communities, where prices reached new record highs.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.603, which is 1.6 cents lower than last week, 20 cents higher than last month and 43 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.598, which is 1.7 cents lower than last week, 21 cents above last month and 42 cents above last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.730, up 1.4 cents from last week, 22 cents higher than last month and 44 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $2.622, down 2.1 cents from last week, 19 cents above last month and 42 cents above last year.

"Declines in crude oil prices that occurred over the past few weeks are now being reflected at local gas pumps in most areas," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "The trend of slowly declining gas prices should continue through May."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m., April 29:

Area                       Regular    Change from      Record Price
                                       last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach      $2.603    -1.6 cents    $2.625 (4/13/2005)

Orange County               $2.582    -2.3 cents    $2.605 (4/21/2005)

San Diego                   $2.598    -1.7 cents    $2.626 (4/12/2005)

Santa Barbara-Santa
 Maria- Lompoc              $2.730    +1.4 cents    $2.730 (4/28/2005)

Riverside-San
 Bernardino                 $2.622    -2.1 cents    $2.649 (4/13/2005)

Bakersfield                 $2.655    -2.4 cents    $2.682 (4/15/2005)

Las Vegas                   $2.513    -1.8 cents    $2.534 (4/14/2005)