Gas Terrorist Events Did Not Impact Oil or Gasoline Distribution

    LOS ANGELES--Sept. 12, 2001--The Auto Club said that gas prices in Southern California and the state are virtually unchanged from yesterday's prices, according to its daily Fuel Gauge Report.
    News reports indicated that some gas stations in the Midwest pushed prices up to as high as $5. According to national AAA reports, these incidents are extremely isolated and are correcting themselves today. Also, industry analysts say that gasoline producers have solid inventories and for the most part have frozen their wholesale prices.

The following chart shows gas prices in selected metro areas for
today and yesterday.

Region                        Wednesday, 9/12           Tuesday, 9/11    

Bakersfield                            $1.626                  $1.620
Los Angeles/Long Beach                 $1.633                  $1.635
Orange County                          $1.662                  $1.661
San Diego                              $1.734                  $1.730

    "The terrible events of yesterday have not affected oil or gasoline supplies and for this reason, panic buying or pricing would be absolutely irresponsible," said Auto Club spokesman, Jeffrey Spring.
    "The nation just endured incredible trauma and some motorists or gasoline station owners may have briefly over-reacted to the situation. As calm returns to much of the nation, however, the Auto Club expects station owners and motorists will behave reponsibly in both the pricing and consumption of gasoline," Spring added.
    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.