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AAA Reports Fourth of July Fuel and Travel Trends

26 June 2000

AAA Reports Fourth of July Fuel and Travel Trends

    BELLEVUE, Wash. - The average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline 
in central and western Washington has decreased nearly two cents per gallon 
since Memorial Day weekend to $1.568. However, this is a 20.2-cent increase 
since Fourth of July 1999.

    Nationally the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline
soared 13.3 cents in the last month to $1.644 per gallon.

    Despite high gas prices, 37.5 million Americans are expected to travel
this Fourth of July holiday, the highest total in 14 years. The projected
number of travelers represents an increase of nearly 4 percent over the
previous year and is the greatest one-year jump for this holiday since 1993.
Of those traveling, 32 million are expected to go by motor vehicle.

    Popular destinations this Fourth of July holiday for Washingtonians
include the Washington and Oregon Coasts; Vancouver and Victoria,
British Columbia; and Las Vegas, Nevada.

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

    City        Fourth of July 2000   Memorial Day 2000   Fourth of July 1999
    Bellevue          1.612                1.627               1.364
    Bellingham        1.572                1.568               1.385
    Bremerton         1.518                1.563               1.361
    Everett           1.583                1.616               1.388
    Lynnwood          1.578                1.616               1.369
    Olympia           1.536                1.549               1.358
    Renton            1.549                1.598               1.374
    Seattle           1.667                1.711               1.410
    Tacoma            1.549                1.562               1.349
    Tri-Cities        1.519                1.526               1.356
    Vancouver         1.519                1.554               1.386
    Wenatchee         1.638                1.603               1.348
    Yakima            1.549                1.544               1.316
    Averages          1.568                1.587               1.366

    AAA Washington provides more than 645,000 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.