Gas Prices in Texas Rise Significantly
21 January 2000
Gas Prices in Texas Rise Significantly
HOUSTON--Jan. 20, 2000--The average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline increased significantly since last January, according to a AAA Texas survey. The current Texas statewide average price of a gallon of self-serve regular unleaded is $1.220. The statewide average price in January '99 was 90 cents."Motorists will find slightly lower prices at the pump than they did just a few weeks ago. However, they will find they're paying higher prices for gas than what they paid this time last year," says Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA - Texas. "One reason, is that motorists tend to drive less in January and February than other months of the year, so demand is low."
AAA reports that the national average price for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline per gallon is $1.289, that is up more than 30 cents since last January, when the average fuel price was 97.9 cents per gallon. January prices are at the highest January level since AAA began reporting monthly fuel prices in 1991.
Analysts expect that pump prices will continue to be influenced by production limits set by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Oil Ministers met last week in Vienna and signaled their intent to continue restricting world oil supplies well into 2000. Their original output agreement was to expire in March. The news from OPEC caused oil traders to push the per barrel oil price above $28 -- the highest level in nine years.
AAA and AAA - Texas commission their Fuel Gauge Reports as a service to motorists and the media. The current reports are based on data gathered Jan. 18, 2000, by the Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information.
AAA - Texas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, has been serving Texans since 1905. Today, AAA - Texas offers its members a full-service travel agency, auto-related services, financial services, public safety programs and legislative advocacy.
Note: Attached is Jan. 18, 2000, average price information for 15 Texas cities.
AAA TEXAS FUEL GAUGE REPORT
AVERAGE PRICE OF SELF-SERVE REGULAR UNLEADED GASOLINE
IN SELECTED TEXAS CITIES
City State Unleaded
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Abilene TX 1.229
Amarillo TX 1.228
Austin TX 1.206
Beaumont TX 1.211
Brownsville TX 1.191
Corpus Christi TX 1.178
Dallas TX 1.254
El Paso TX 1.244
Fort Worth TX 1.230
Houston TX 1.240
Laredo TX 1.241
Longview TX 1.218
Lubbock TX 1.265
San Antonio TX 1.170
Waco TX 1.193
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Average 1.220
(January 2000)
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1999 (Jan.) 2000 (Jan.)
----------- -----------
National Average Price National Average Price
97.9 1.289
Texas Average Price Texas Average Price
90.9 1.220
(a) Survey Commissioned by AAA-Texas on Nov. 18, 2000
