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Fuel Prices on the Rise, AAA Washington Reports

29 July 1999

Fuel Prices on the Rise, AAA Washington Reports
    BELLEVUE, Wash., July 28 -- The average price of self-serve
regular unleaded gasoline in central and western Washington has jumped
5.6 cents since Fourth of July weekend to $1.422 per gallon, AAA Washington
reports.
    Tri-Cities (12.2 cents), Yakima (10.9 cents), Tacoma (10.3 cents), and
Bellevue (8.6 cents) show the largest increases in prices of self-serve
regular unleaded gasoline in western and central Washington.  Renton has the
least increase, 2.9 cents.
    During the past month, the national average price of self-serve regular
unleaded gasoline increased 3.2 cents to $1.174 per gallon.  This is the
highest level since late 1997.
   Two factors seemed to have contributed to higher prices at the pump:  the
continued increase in demand of U.S. gasoline, and the fact that crude oil
prices have reached a 19-month high.

                          Area by Area Comparison of
                   Self-Serve Regular Unleaded Fuel Prices

    City                  July 28, 1999      Fourth of July
                                                  1999

    Bellevue                  1.450               1.364
    Bellingham                1.436               1.385
    Bremerton                 1.393               1.361
    Everett                   1.437               1.388
    Lynnwood                  1.405               1.369
    Olympia                   1.416               1.358
    Renton                    1.403               1.374
    Seattle                   1.442               1.410
    Tacoma                    1.452               1.349
    Tri-Cities                1.356               1.356
    Vancouver                 1.450               1.386
    Wenatchee                   N/A               1.348
    Yakima                    1.425               1.316
    Averages                  1.422               1.366

    AAA Washington provides more than 615,500 members in western and central
Washington a full range of products and benefits, including full-service
travel agencies and personal lines insurance agencies in each of its
13 service centers; a range of auto-related services; a variety of financial
products, and member discounts on many consumer products and services.
Although its travel and insurance agencies are available to the general
public, AAA members benefit additionally from many special discounts and
exclusive programs.  A not-for-profit organization, AAA Washington also
assists travelers through its highway and transportation safety and
legislative advocacy programs.  More information about AAA Washington is
available on the company's website at http://www.aaawa.com.

    CONTACT:  Janet Ray, 425-646-2058, or Jennifer Harbison, 425-646-2055,
both of AAA Washington