August Gas Prices Climb, Fuel Demand Reaches 20-Year High, Says AAA

12 August 1997

    SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 12 -- Retail gas prices in northern
California increased slightly, the American Automobile Association (AAA)
reported Tuesday.  Consumer demand for gasoline, however, has reached a record
20-year high throughout the U.S., according to the Department of Energy (DOE).
    "In July, Americans consumed 8.5 million barrels per day -- the highest
consumer demand for gasoline in two decades," according to a DOE spokesperson.
    "Wholesale gasoline prices rose 5 to 10 cents nationwide and consumers are
now starting to feel the effect in California and in many other regions of the
U.S.," said AAA's northern California spokesman Ron Kennedy.
    "Reformulated gasoline inventories throughout California are lower than
July, 1996, and consumer demand is high," said Alan Kovski, of The Oil Daily.
    Self-serve unleaded gas averages $1.36 a gallon in northern California, up
two cents from AAA's July 22, Fuel Gauge Survey.
    The average for self-serve unleaded gas varies depending on the region.
In Monterey, the average jumped six cents to $1.43.  San Rafael and Sacramento
averages climbed five cents to $1.44 and $1.32.  Stockton's average has risen
four cents to $1.32 a gallon.  San Mateo and San Jose averages increased three
cents to $1.43 and $1.39.  Hayward's average also rose three cents to $1.41.
San Francisco's average rose two cents to $1.43.  Santa Rosa's average moved
up one cent to $1.32.  (See accompanying chart for detailed price changes.)
    The regional averages for self-serve unleaded in northern California are
15 to 25 cents lower this August, compared to this time last year.
    The national average for self-serve unleaded gasoline is $1.28, up five
cents from last month.
    The Nevada average for self-serve unleaded remained stable at $1.32.
Reno's average rose three cents to $1.42.  However, the Las Vegas average fell
two cents to $1.23.
    Utah's average for self-serve regular unleaded climbed two cents to $1.26
a gallon.  In Salt Lake City, the average is unchanged at $1.24.  Provo's
average, however, dropped one cent to $1.23.
    Pump prices at individual retailers may vary from the survey averages.
    The AAA affiliate in northern California, Nevada, and Utah serves
3.7 million members with an array of automotive, travel, and insurance
services.

                     CALIFORNIA STATE AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION
           MONTHLY GAS PRICE AVERAGES FOR A GALLON OF REGULAR UNLEADED,
                               SELF-SERVE GASOLINE
                            AUGUST 1996 - AUGUST 1997
                             TWELVE MONTH COMPARISON

                     8/97   7/97   6/97   5/97   4/97   3/97   2/97   1/97

    N/CENTRAL CA     1.36   1.34   1.40   1.43   1.46   1.37   1.35   1.32
    Concord          1.27   1.26   1.31   1.38   1.45   1.35   1.35   1.27
    Hayward          1.41   1.38   1.42   1.49   1.49   1.40   1.38   1.27
    Oakland          1.32   1.35   1.37   1.43   1.46   1.38   1.37   1.31
    San Francisco    1.43   1.41   1.46   1.49   1.52   1.40   1.40   1.30
    San Mateo        1.43   1.40   1.39   1.48   1.50   1.41   1.39   N/A
    San Jose         1.39   1.36   1.41   1.46   1.48   1.39   1.37   1.22
    Santa Cruz       1.38   1.41   1.41   1.47   1.48   1.36   1.39   1.33
    Monterey         1.43   1.37   1.44   1.48   1.48   1.37   1.38   1.36
    San Rafael       1.44   1.39   1.43   1.47   1.47   1.43   1.37   1.43
    Santa Rosa       1.32   1.31   1.36   1.37   1.43   1.38   1.37   1.24
    Sacramento       1.32   1.27   1.32   1.39   1.44   1.36   1.34   1.26
    Lake Tahoe       1.33   1.35   1.38   1.40   1.43   1.35   1.38   N/A
    Stockton         1.32   1.28   1.33   1.38   1.43   1.37   1.36   1.23
    Fresno           1.25   1.22   1.27   1.33   1.41   1.29   1.28   1.21
    NEVADA           1.32   1.32   1.31   1.39   1.43   1.37   1.35   1.36
    Las Vegas        1.23   1.25   1.31   1.34   1.39   1.36   1.35   1.38
    Reno             1.42   1.39   1.44   1.48   1.47   1.39   1.38   1.38
    UTAH             1.26   1.24   1.26   1.29   1.29   1.23   1.25   1.22
    Salt Lake City   1.24   1.24   1.26   1.29   1.28   1.25   1.27   1.21
    Provo            1.23   1.24   1.23   1.27   1.30   1.22   1.21   1.18

                                                 August
                                                  1996
                     12/96   11/96  10/96  9/96   8/96

    N/CENTRAL CA     1.28    1.33   1.36   1.47   1.49
    Concord          1.25    1.25   1.39   1.49   1.52
    Hayward          1.26    1.29   1.36   1.44   1.47
    Oakland          1.30    1.34   1.39   1.50   1.50
    San Francisco    1.30    1.34   1.38   1.45   1.54
    San Mateo        N/A     1.33   1.37   1.50   1.56
    San Jose         1.18    1.24   1.32   1.40   1.47
    Santa Cruz       1.30    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A
    Monterey         1.34    1.39   1.36   1.47   1.51
    San Rafael       1.39    1.40   1.30   1.38   1.45
    Santa Rosa       1.24    N/A    1.33   1.42   1.45
    Sacramento       1.19    1.23   1.34   1.42   1.45
    Lake Tahoe       N/A     N/A    N/A    N/A    1.47
    Stockton         1.19    1.24   1.35   1.43   1.46
    Fresno           1.17    1.18   1.27   N/A    1.36
    NEVADA           1.34    1.36   1.42   1.39   1.43
    Las Vegas        1.32    1.34   1.36   1.35   1.43
    Reno             1.39    1.42   1.46   1.45   1.49
    UTAH             N/A     N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A
    Salt Lake City   N/A     N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A
    Provo            N/A     N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A

    NOTE:  According to August 8, 1997 Survey of over 350 Gas Stations.

SOURCE  California State Automobile Association