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Gas Prices Down Sharply For Thanksgiving, AAA Says

18 November 1997

Gas Prices Down Sharply For Thanksgiving, AAA Says

    ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 18 -- There is good news for motorists
this Thanksgiving as the national average price of gasoline took the biggest
monthly drop in two years and is 4.3 cents less than one year ago, according
to AAA.
    AAA's monthly Fuel Gauge Report shows the average price of self-serve
regular unleaded gasoline is $1.234 per gallon, down 3 cents in just one
month.  In the last two months, the price has fallen 5.4 cents.
    The average price of self-serve mid-grade unleaded is $1.32 per gallon,
2.8 cents less than last month and 3.5 cents less than one year ago.  Self-
serve premium is $1.375, down 2.8 cents from a month ago and 5.6 cents less
than last year.
    Self-serve regular unleaded is most expensive in the West at $1.384 per
gallon, down 1.6 cents from last month and 1.8 cents more than a year ago.  It
is least expensive in the Southeast at $1.14, 3.1 cents less than a month ago
and 6.4 cents less than last year.
    Other regional prices for self-serve are:  New England, $1.286 per gallon,
down 3.7 cents in one month and .7 cent less than last year; Mid-Atlantic,
$1.22, down 3.6 cents this month and down 6.1 cents from a year ago; Great
Lakes, $1.168, down 3.6 cents from last month and 11.4 cents less than last
year; Midwest, $1.177, 3.4 cents less than last month and down 8.2 cents from
a year ago; and Southwest, $1.212, down 2.4 cents in one month and 6.4 cents
less than last year.
   The national average prices for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline for
the last six months were:  October, $1.264 per gallon; September, $1.288;
August, $1.264; July, $1.233; June, $1.25; and May, $1.242.
   The national average prices for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in
November for the last five years were:  1996, $1.277 per gallon; 1995, $1.123;
1994, $1.165; 1993, $1.116; and 1992, $1.157.
    AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 97 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.

SOURCE  American Automobile Association