Auto Club: Gas Prices Start Upward Climb; Downward Trend Appears to be Over

    LOS ANGELES--Jan. 11, 2002--Reversing a four-month trend, the price of gasoline spiked upward throughout Southern California, southern Nevada and Arizona, bringing the average price to above $1 per gallon, according to the Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
    The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips.
    Currently, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $1.064 per gallon, which is 7.2 cents above last week's price. In San Diego the price is $1.251, which is 4.9 cents higher than last week's level. Motorists in the central coast have an average price of $1.183, that is 6.3 cents above last week's price.
    "The price upswing is not unexpected," said Auto Club spokesperson Jeff Spring. "Gasoline producers have been trying to bring supplies in line with demand. As a result gasoline prices are likely to increase for the immediate future."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Jan. 11:

Area                       Regular      Change from    Record Price
                                         last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach     $1.064       +7.2 cents     $2.036 (5/25)

San Diego                  $1.251       +4.9 cents     $2.025 (5/29)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc                     $1.183       +6.3 cents     $2.069 (5/16)

Las Vegas                  $1.153       +5.4 cents     $1.885 (3/27/00)

Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.        $1.083       +2.5 cents     $1.720 (5/30)