---

July 4th Gas Prices Down 5 Cents From Last Year, AAA Says

24 June 1997

July 4th Gas Prices Down 5 Cents From Last Year, AAA Says

    ORLANDO, Fla., June 24 -- Motorists traveling for the Fourth
of July holiday can expect to pay a nickel per gallon less for gasoline than
they did one year ago, according to AAA.
    AAA's Fuel Gauge Report shows the average price of self-serve regular
unleaded gasoline is $1.25 per gallon, 5.3 cents lower than last July 4th.
    The national average price of self-serve mid-grade unleaded is $1.33 per
gallon, 6.2 cents less than last year.  Self-serve premium is $1.40, 7.4 cents
less than last year.
    Self-serve regular unleaded is most expensive in the West at $1.355 per
gallon, 9.5 cents lower than a year ago.  It is least expensive in the
Southeast at $1.17, 4.6 cents below last year.
    Other regional prices for self-serve are:  New England, $1.267 per gallon,
6.1 cents lower than last year; Mid-Atlantic, $1.223, down 8.7 cents from a
year ago; Great Lakes, $1.228, down 4.7 cents from last year; Midwest, $1.244,
down 1.4 cents from a year ago; and Southwest, $1.230, down 5.7 cents less
than last year.
    The national average prices for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline for
AAA's pre-July 4th survey for the last five years were:  1996, $1.303 per
gallon; 1995, $1.288; 1994, $1.115; 1993, $1.123; and 1992, $1.187.
    AAA's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data from Oil Price Information
Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing
information (800-929-4824, ext. 645).
    AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 99 clubs with more than 1,000
offices providing more than 39 million members in the U.S. and Canada with
travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.
    NOTE:  AAA news releases can be downloaded from the following sites:
AOL -- Keyword:  AAA; Click on "News and Events," "News Releases."
 INTERNET -- http://www.aaa.com/news/news.html

SOURCE  American Automobile Association