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AAA Texas: Weekend Gas Watch; Gasoline Prices Maintain Momentum

HOUSTON--March 24, 2006--Gasoline prices in Texas shot up 14 cents a gallon this week, maintaining upward momentum from last week's increase of 7 cents, according to the AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch.

The statewide average price for a gallon of regular self serve is $2.480 that's 47 cents higher than a year ago. Dallas has the highest average on the list at $2.524 a gallon, up 15 cents since last week. The Galveston - Texas City area posted the biggest increase of 17 cents to $2.513 a gallon.

"The seasonal switchover from winter grade fuel to the production of cleaner-burning summer fuels typically means higher prices," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "The change in gasoline processing slows the production of gasoline and temporarily reduces inventories, which helps drive up prices."

The national average for regular self-serve gasoline is $2.511 a gallon - nearly 12 cents higher than last week.

AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline in Texas.

Average Daily Prices as of 12:01 AM, March 24, 2006

Area                               Weekly
                     3/23/06       Change       3/17/06     3/10/06
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National             $2.511     +11.8 cents     $2.393      $2.347
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State                $2.480     +14.0 cents     $2.340      $2.269
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Austin-
 San Marcos          $2.453     +13.4 cents     $2.319      $2.264
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Beaumont             $2.448     +12.5 cents     $2.323      $2.263
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Corpus Christi       $2.420     +12.5 cents     $2.295      $2.231
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Dallas               $2.524     +15.1 cents     $2.373      $2.279
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Ft. Worth            $2.512     +14.4 cents     $2.368      $2.280
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Galveston-
 Texas City          $2.513     +17.0 cents     $2.343      $2.252
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Houston              $2.495     +15.1 cents     $2.344      $2.247
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San Antonio          $2.392     +11.5 cents     $2.277      $2.219
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Area                    Record High        2005 Average
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National              $3.057 (9/5/05)         $1.902
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State                 $2.964 (9/4/05)         $1.824
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Austin-
 San Marcos           $2.918 (9/6/05)         $1.808
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Beaumont              $2.930 (9/4/05)         $1.797
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Corpus Christi        $2.929 (9/3/05)         $1.729
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Dallas                $3.019 (9/4/05)         $1.839
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Ft. Worth             $3.012 (9/4/05)         $1.834
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Galveston-
 Texas City           $2.997 (9/4/05)         $1.815
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Houston               $2.971 (9/6/05)         $1.813
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San Antonio           $2.909 (9/4/05)         $1.798
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