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CSAA - Gas Prices Up a Dime in One Month

15 September 1997

CSAA - Gas Prices Up a Dime in One Month

    SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15 -- Retail gasoline prices shot up
10 cents a gallon in one month at the pumps, AAA of northern California
reported today.
    A gallon of regular unleaded self-serve gasoline averaged $1.46 in
northern California, up nearly 7.5 percent since mid-August, according to AAA
of northern California's Fuel Gauge Survey. The monthly survey includes more
than 350 gas stations in northern California, Nevada and Utah.
    The rise reflects attempts by gasoline producers to turn around a
wholesale gas glut felt at the start of summer, which depressed prices,
according to Alan Kovski of "The Oil Daily."
    "They must have overdone it a bit," said Kovski. Gas production in
California was "tightened up," he said, and surplus gasoline was shipped out
of state, to as far away as Florida and Taiwan.
    In Nevada, the average price leaped 12 cents a gallon to $1.44, while in
Utah gas prices climbed 7 cents to $1.33. All prices in the AAA survey are for
regular self-serve unleaded gasoline.
    The northern California average is a penny lower now than this time last
year. In Nevada, it was a nickel less at $1.39 one year ago.
    In California, city averages are:  Concord, $1.41; Fresno, $1.38; Hayward,
$1.46; Lake Tahoe, $1.43; Monterey, $1.51; Oakland, $1.43; Sacramento, $1.43;
San Francisco, $1.53; San Jose, $1.47; San Mateo, $1.51; San Rafael, $1.52;
Santa Cruz, $1.47; Santa Rosa, $1.41; Stockton, $1.45.
    In Nevada, city averages are:  Las Vegas, $1.38; Reno, $1.51
    In Utah, city averages are:  Salt Lake City, $1.32; Provo, $1.27
    The AAA affiliate for northern California, Nevada and Utah serves
3.7 million members with an array of automotive, travel and insurance
services.

SOURCE  California State Automobile Association