LA Auto Club: Gas Prices Fall -- More Declines Expected

LOS ANGELES--Oct. 28, 2005--Lower demand and increased imports from abroad have combined to send gasoline prices lower this week with steeper declines expected in the coming weeks, 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 $2.829, which is 7.2 cents lower than last week, 10 cents lower than last month and 39 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.851 -- 8.1 cents below last week's price, 12 cents below last month and 40 cents above last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.919, down 7.2 cents from last week, 9 cents lower than last month and 35 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $2.851, down 6.3 cents from last week, 10 cents below last month and 40 cents higher than last year.

"Southern Californians have reduced their driving significantly in the past couple of months. Additionally across the nation, demand for gas is down 2 percent from this time last year," Auto Club spokeswoman Carol Thorp said. "Temporarily relaxed emissions standards have encouraged foreign imports of gasoline. Imports have more than made up for supply problems caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m., Oct. 28, 2005:

Area                            Regular  Change from   Record Price
                                          last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach           $2.829  -7.2 cents  $2.999 (9/6/2005)

Orange County                    $2.766  -8.2 cents  $2.970 (9/6/2005)

San Diego                        $2.851  -8.1 cents  $3.060 (9/5/2005)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc $2.919  -7.2 cents  $3.111 (9/7/2005)

Riverside-San Bernardino         $2.851  -6.3 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)