Auto Club: Southern California Average Gas Price Rises 16 Cents Since February; Renewed Economy and Middle Eastern Strife Cited
LOS ANGELES--March 12, 2002--Southern California average gas prices increased for the third consecutive month and remained above the state average for the second consecutive month, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's monthly Fuel Gauge Report.The Southern California average price for regular self-serve unleaded gasoline is $1.47, up from a Feb. 12 average of $1.31. The current price compares with a state average of $1.45, which is up from $1.28. San Francisco area motorists now pay an average of $1.54, up 17 cents from a month ago.
The lowest average price in the state is the Central Valley near Fresno and Visalia, where regular self-serve gasoline is selling for $1.32 per gallon.
Nationally, the average price for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline increased more than 5 cents to $1.22. Crude oil also moved higher this week to more than $24 per barrel, on growing rumors that oil from Iran or Iraq might become unavailable because either of them may be drawn into a military conflict.
"While gas prices are still lower than they were last year at this time, the combination of Middle Eastern strife, a stronger economy and the traditional switch from winter to more expensive summer-grade gasoline are colliding to create higher gas prices in our region," said Jeffrey Spring, Auto Club spokesman. "As always, motorists should look for stations offering the best deals."
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
County Unl Pre Imperial County El Centro 1.554 1.699 Inyo County Bishop 1.566 1.704 Kern County Bakersfield 1.386 1.547 Ridgecrest 1.459 1.669 Los Angeles County Alhambra 1.354 1.472 Arcadia 1.472 1.599 Burbank 1.445 1.659 Culver City 1.499 1.574 Glendale 1.452 1.626 Glendora 1.379 1.539 Inglewood 1.453 1.559 Lancaster 1.483 1.597 Long Beach 1.454 1.599 Los Angeles 1.447 1.640 Manhattan Beach 1.381 1.499 Montebello 1.428 1.449 Santa Clarita 1.484 1.659 Santa Monica 1.481 1.602 Van Nuys 1.418 1.569 Whittier 1.432 1.692 Woodland Hills 1.455 1.672 Orange County Anaheim 1.433 1.654 Fullerton 1.427 1.589 Huntington Beach 1.448 1.699 La Habra 1.377 1.499 Laguna Beach 1.586 1.719 Newport Beach 1.500 1.699 San Clemente 1.511 1.709 Riverside County Blythe 1.643 1.734 Hemet 1.458 1.664 Palm Springs 1.569 1.673 Riverside 1.460 1.553 San Bernardino County Redlands 1.480 1.659 San Bernardino 1.469 1.652 Victorville 1.462 1.606 San Diego County Chula Vista 1.511 1.679 Del Mar 1.513 1.759 Escondido 1.459 1.659 Oceanside 1.501 1.689 San Diego 1.494 1.675 San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo 1.509 1.615 Santa Barbara County Lompoc 1.539 1.647 Santa Barbara 1.520 1.632 Santa Maria 1.479 1.587 Tulare County Porterville 1.392 1.519 Visalia 1.322 1.529 Ventura County Ventura 1.510 1.677 So. Calif. Avg. 1.469 1.626
The Auto Club's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 2,800 Southern California gas stations. Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information, provides the data.
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.