July 4th Gas Prices Hit Record High
21 June 2000
July 4th Gas Prices Hit Record High
HOUSTON--June 21, 2000--Fourth of July travelers will find the highest gasoline prices in history this holiday. The current Texas statewide average price of a gallon of self-serve regular unleaded is $1.51, compared to $1.06 this time last year, according to a AAA Texas survey.AAA reports that the average price for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline a gallon is $1.64 nationally, nearly 50 cents higher than last July 4th when prices averaged $1.15 a gallon.
"There is no clear-cut reason that explains the rapid increase in gasoline prices," says Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "However, there are a number of factors that come into play, including a surge in demand for gasoline with the onset of the summer driving season and low gasoline supplies."
Also, as of June 1st, according to Rougeau, cities with pollution problems such as Houston and Dallas are required to use a new type of reformulated gasoline which costs more to produce. In light of the record-high prices, AAA believes there may be instances where a temporary waiver of the U.S. EPA's reformulated gasoline requirement may be necessary.
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 June 20, 2000 by the Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information.
AAA Texas has been serving Texans since 1905. Today, AAA Texas offers its members a full service travel agency, auto-related and financial services, as well as public safety programs and legislative advocacy.
Note: Attached is June 20, 2000 average price information for 17 Texas cities.
AAA TEXAS FUEL GAUGE REPORT
AVERAGE PRICE OF SELF-SERVE REGULAR UNLEADED GASOLINE
IN SELECTED TEXAS CITIES
City ST June '99 June '00 May '00 Apr '00 Mar '00
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Abilene TX 1.0605 1.5022 1.430 1.400 1.491
Amarillo TX 1.0872 1.6000 1.496 1.365 1.488
Austin TX 1.0419 1.4670 1.420 1.415 1.457
Beaumont TX 1.0208 1.4771 1.403 1.364 1.482
Brownsville TX 1.0326 1.4602 1.437 1.247 1.471
Corpus Christi TX .9900 1.4671 1.388 1.241 1.465
Dallas TX 1.0859 1.5592 1.482 1.481 1.494
El Paso TX 1.1353 1.4602 1.452 1.417 1.473
Fort Worth TX 1.0584 1.5475 1.461 1.456 1.472
Houston TX 1.0676 1.5472 1.486 1.478 1.518
Laredo TX 1.0301 1.4742 1.475 1.404 1.460
Longview TX 1.0195 1.4869 1.474 1.328 1.477
Lubbock TX 1.0970 1.5992 1.499 1.371 1.483
Midland TX N/A 1.5719 1.476 N/A N/A
Odessa TX N/A 1.5419 1.460 N/A N/A
San Antonio TX 1.0188 1.4447 1.394 1.382 1.327
Waco TX 1.0148 1.4632 1.410 1.396 1.330
Avg 1.058 1.511 1.449 1.425 1.377
(June 2000) (June 1999)
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National Average Price $1.644 $1.148 up 49.6 cents
Survey Commissioned by AAA-Texas on June 20, 2000
