LA Auto Club: Gas Prices Fall - Further Declines Expected

LOS ANGELES--Oct. 21, 2005--Gasoline prices in Southern California declined for the second straight week led by lower demand, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.901, which is 5.6 cents lower than last week, 5 cents lower than last month and 44 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.932 - 6.1 cents below last week's price, 5 cents below last month and 47 cents above last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.991, down 3.4 cents from last week, 6 cents lower than last month and 43 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $2.914, down 6.5 cents from last week, 6 cents below last month and 46 cents higher than last year.

"Since gasoline prices neared $3 per gallon a few weeks ago, motorists have cut back driving," Auto Club spokeswoman Carol Thorp said. "Most people can't reduce essential driving, such as commuting to work. But it's easy to save money by cutting back discretionary driving if motorists follow simple tips: If you have two cars, use the more fuel-efficient car for weekend business, and combine errands so you make one trip along a route instead of several trips. Other gas-saving tips include: Keep your tires inflated to their recommended pressure, and drive your car more smoothly by using a light foot on the gas and brake pedals."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m., Oct. 21, 2005:

Area                    Regular Change from last week    Record Price
Los Angeles-Long Beach  $2.901       -5.6 cents      $2.999 (9/6/2005)

Orange County           $2.848       -5.0 cents      $2.970 (9/6/2005)

San Diego               $2.932       -6.1 cents      $3.060 (9/5/2005)

Santa Barbara-Santa
 Maria-Lompoc           $2.991       -3.4 cents      $3.111 (9/7/2005)

Riverside-San
 Bernardino             $2.914       -6.5 cents      $3.030 (9/9/2005)

Bakersfield             $2.951       -6.0 cents      $3.167 (9/9/2005)

Las Vegas               $2.761       -7.7 cents      $2.968 (9/8/2005)