Southern California Gas Prices Soar Says Auto Club Survey
14 March 2000
Southern California Gas Prices Soar Says Auto Club Survey
LOS ANGELES--March 14, 2000--Southern California gasoline prices have climbed more than 27 cents a gallon in one month, shooting past the 1999 April high of $1.61, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California Fuel Gauge Report.The March average price of regular self-serve unleaded is $1.701 compared with $1.429 on Feb. 15. The "lowest" of the high gas prices in Southern California this month can be found in Alhambra where the average price for a gallon of self-serve unleaded is $1.605. Premium grade gasoline has crept higher that $2 per gallon in Blythe and Ridgecrest.
The March statewide average is $1.736 -- up from $1.453 in February. Travelers to Northern California can expect to pay an average of $1.83 which is 36 cents higher than February. The March national average is $1.543 cents per gallon -- up 17.6 cents compared with February -- and the highest price per gallon since 1981.
Any meaningful relief for the "OPEC Oil Squeeze" will have to come from OPEC's scheduled March 27 meeting in Vienna, Austria. The gathering of oil-producing nations must result in an agreement to boost oil production by at least 2.5 million barrels per day to meet current worldwide demand.
An agreement to increase production to this level should be adequate to halt rising fuel prices and possibly send prices lower. If OPEC does agree to a production increase, oil analysts say it may take at least six weeks for retail gasoline prices to begin adjusting in the United States. Knowing in advance the size and speed of any possible retail price change is impossible, however.
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
County Unl Pre Imperial County El Centro 1.895 1.998 Inyo County Bishop 1.862 1.979 Kern County Bakersfield 1.777 1.979 Ridgecrest 1.852 2.011 Los Angeles County Alhambra 1.605 1.779 Arcadia 1.619 1.716 Burbank 1.615 1.774 Culver City 1.714 1.872 Glendale 1.637 1.796 Glendora 1.712 1.799 Inglewood 1.649 1.782 Lancaster 1.649 1.939 Long Beach 1.646 1.821 Los Angeles 1.652 1.820 Manhattan Beach 1.699 1.906 Montebello 1.635 1.802 Santa Monica 1.702 1.843 Van Nuys 1.639 1.802 Whittier 1.648 1.846 Woodland Hills 1.635 1.834 Orange County Anaheim 1.635 1.821 Fullerton 1.642 1.841 Huntington Bch 1.624 1.799 La Habra 1.583 1.809 Laguna Beach 1.677 1.874 Newport Beach 1.661 1.819 San Clemente 1.699 1.845 Tustin 1.682 1.865 Riverside County Blythe 1.831 2.004 Hemet 1.704 1.886 Palm Springs 1.759 1.939 Riverside 1.688 1.868 San Bernardino County Redlands 1.692 1.829 San Bernardino 1.699 1.849 Victorville 1.714 1.937 San Diego County Chula Vista 1.750 1.949 Del Mar 1.766 1.899 Escondido 1.703 1.857 Oceanside 1.720 1.875 San Diego 1.732 1.894 San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo 1.768 1.899 Santa Barbara County Lompoc 1.787 1.885 Santa Barbara 1.758 1.939 Santa Maria 1.757 1.979 Tulare County Porterville 1.859 1.987 Visalia 1.799 1.969 Ventura County Ventura 1.705 1.888 So. Calif. Avg. 1.707 1.874
During this period of high prices, the Auto Club continues to urge motorists to practice common-sense fuel conservation techniques and to shop aggressively for the lowest price.
Properly maintaining your vehicle is a critical component in reducing gas usage, according to Steve Mazor, principal automotive engineer. Underinflated tires, for example, can cut fuel economy by up to 2% per pound of pressure below the recommended level. Worn spark plugs and dirty air filters also increase fuel consumption. The Club also offers the following gas saving tips:
-- Knowing the correct starting procedure for your car. Racing an
engine to warm it up wastes fuel.
-- Maintaining steady speeds. A car uses extra fuel when it
accelerates.
-- Minimizing the need to brake by anticipating traffic conditions.
Be alert for slow-downs and red lights.
-- Using the air conditioner only when necessary. Air conditioning
reduces fuel economy by about 5%.
The Auto Club's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 2,800 Southern California gas stations. Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information, provides the data.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's emergency road service, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs and legislative advocacy.
Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
