Gas Prices Bump Back Up in Northern California, AAA Reports; 9-cent Increase Since Mid-February Reverses Six Months of Falling Prices
SAN FRANCISCO--March 13, 2001--Northern California motorists experienced a bump on the road to steady gas prices, according to AAA's monthly gas survey released today.The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded self-serve gas in Northern California is $1.77, up 9 cents from February but down 21 cents from September's record high, according to AAA's monthly gas survey. The Bay Area average is $1.80, up 5 cents from last month, but 4 cents lower than a year ago.
"We expect gas prices to remain at or near this level at least through the end of April," said AAA spokeswoman, Bronwyn Hogan. "There may be some short-term price fluctuations which, apart from a change in crude oil prices, is mostly caused by the switch from winter grade to summer grade fuels. In addition, refineries are cutting back production as they take parts of their systems off line for much-needed maintenance."
The highest gas prices in Northern California are Eureka, $1.98, up 19 cents, the largest one month increase in Northern California; San Francisco, $1.90, up 6 cents; San Mateo and Yreka, both at $1.88 and up 4 cents and 18 cents respectively. Cities with the lowest gas in the region include Fresno, $1.65, up 12 cents; Tracy, $1.67, up 7 cents, and Salinas, $1.68, up 8 cents.
Southern California reports an average of $1.69, up 9 cents, with Los Angeles at $1.64, up 11 cents. The most expensive gas in Southern California is Bishop, at $1.90, matching San Francisco's average. La Habra has the lowest gas in the state at $1.52, and it is 46 cents lower than Eureka's record high this month.
Hawaii reports the most expensive regular unleaded gas in the country, at $1.99, followed by California and Nevada, at $1.72. The states with the lowest regular unleaded gas in the country are Oklahoma and Georgia at $1.30. The U.S. average for regular unleaded is $1.435, down 4.2 cents per gallon from last month.
The NYMEX price for benchmark crude oil that affects retail gas prices is just under $28 today. "The price of crude has contributed to the world inflationary pressure," said Alan Kovski, managing editor for Energy Business Watch, "and it still needs to be lower to an ideal target price of around $22-25 per barrel." The oil industry analyst said OPEC oil ministers meeting later this week are still concerned about a possible oil glut two months from now and could cut production, thus impacting prices.
AAA Monthly Gas Price Averages, March 13, 2001
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City/State Reg. CHANGE
Unlead.
Self-Serve
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NOR. CALIF. 1.77 up 9 cents
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BAY AREA 1.80 up 5 cents
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CHICO 1.71 up 15 cents
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CONCORD 1.71 up 7 cents
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EUREKA 1.98 up 19 cents
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FREMONT 1.79 up 4 cents
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FRESNO 1.65 up 12 cents
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LAKE TAHOE 1.77 up 1 cent
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MARYSVILLE 1.72 up 16 cents
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MODESTO 1.69 up 11 cents
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MONTEREY 1.72 up 10 cents
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OAKLAND 1.81 up 5 cents
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PLEASANTON 1.79 up 4 cents
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REDDING 1.72 up 14 cents
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SACRAMENTO 1.72 up 10 cents
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SALINAS 1.68 up 9 cents
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SAN FRANCISCO 1.90 up 6 cents
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SAN JOSE 1.81 up 7 cents
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SAN MATEO 1.88 up 4 cents
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SAN RAFAEL 1.82 up 3 cents
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SANTA CRUZ 1.73 up 3 cents
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SANTA ROSA 1.73 up 7 cents
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STOCKTON 1.76 up 11 cents
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TRACY 1.67 up 7 cents
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UKIAH 1.80 up 11 cents
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VALLEJO 1.76 up 8 cents
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YREKA 1.88 up 18 cents
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NEVADA 1.72 up 9 cents
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CARSON CITY 1.68 up 16 cents
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ELKO 1.58 up 4 cents
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LAS VEGAS 1.68 up 7 cents
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RENO 1.72 up 17 cents
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SPARKS 1.71 up 17 cents
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UTAH 1.44 up 3 cents
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MOAB 1.57 up 7 cents
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OGDEN 1.40 up 9 cents
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OREM 1.33 up 1 cent
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PROVO 1.32 up 2 cents
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SALT LAKE CITY 1.37 down 2 cents
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ST. GEORGE 1.53 up 5 cents
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SOU. CALIF. 1.69 up 9 cents
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BAKERSFIELD 1.76 up 15 cents
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LOS ANGELES 1.64 up 11 cents
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SANTA BARBARA 1.87 up 6 cents
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CALIFORNIA AVG. 1.72 up 9 cents
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AAA NATIONAL GAS 1.435 down 4.2 cents
AVERAGE
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NYMEX Light Sweet Crude (3/13/01 9:30 am):
$27.80, down $2.54 from 2/13/01
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Established 100 years ago, AAA offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. The California State Automobile Association serves 4 million members and is the second largest regional affiliate of the national AAA organization. AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 60,000 self-serve stations surveyed daily every day. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express, LLC.