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Gas Prices Drop 2.4 Cents, AAA Says

14 October 1997

Gas Prices Drop 2.4 Cents, AAA Says

    ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 14 -- The average price of self-serve
regular unleaded gasoline fell 2.4 cents per gallon since mid-September -- the
first decrease in three months.
    AAA's monthly Fuel Gauge Report shows the average price of self-serve
regular unleaded gasoline is $1.264 per gallon, .5 cent higher than one year
ago.
    Self-serve mid-grade unleaded averages 1.348 per gallon, 2.2 cents less
than last month and .5 cent below a year ago.  Self-serve premium is $1.403,
2.9 cents lower than a month ago and down 1.1 cents from last year.
    Self-serve regular unleaded is most expensive in the West at $1.40 per
gallon, the same as last month and 1.5 cents higher than a year ago.  It is
least expensive in the Southeast at $1.171, 2.1 cents below a month ago and 1
cent more than last year.
    Other regional prices for self-serve are: New England, $1.323 per gallon,
down 2.8 cents in one month and 5.2 cents higher than last year; Mid-Atlantic,
$1.256 down 2.3 cents this month and the same as a year ago; Great Lakes,
$1.204, down 5.5 cents from last month and 2.3 cents lower than last year;
Midwest, $1.211, down 4.2 cents this month and down 2.5 cents from a year ago;
and Southwest, $1.236, down 1.6 cents in one month and 2.3 cents less than
last year.
    The national average prices for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline for
the past six months were:  Sept., $1.288 per gallon; August, $1.264; July,
$1.233; June, $1.25; May, $1.242; and April, $1.253.
    The national average prices for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in
October for the past five years were:  1996, $1.259 per gallon; 1995, $1.154;
1994, $1.157; 1993, $1.134; and 1992, $1.156.
    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 97 motor clubs with more than 1,000
offices providing 40 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," or "News Releases;" or
 INTERNET -- http://www.aaa.com/news/news.html

SOURCE  American Automobile Association