Southern California Average Gas Price Rises 18 Cents Since March
LOS ANGELES--April 16, 2002--Southern California average gas prices increased for the fourth 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 $1.65, up from a March average of $1.47. The current price compares with a state average of $1.66, which is up from $1.45. San Francisco-area motorists now pay an average of $1.80, up 26 cents from a month ago.
The lowest average price in the state can be found in Porterville where regular self-serve gas can be pumped for $1.51 per gallon, followed by Redding at $1.52.
Nationally, the average price for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline increased more than 14 cents to $1.41. Georgia reports the lowest state average at $1.28 per gallon. Crude oil also hovers at around $24 per barrel, based on political uncertainty in Venezuela and the Middle East.
"While gas prices are still 13 cents lower than they were last year at this time, the combination of price speculation over international uncertainty and a stronger economy have joined to push prices higher in the past month," said Jeffrey Spring, Auto Club spokesman.
"Higher prices have dampened demand somewhat, so the market is unlikely to push oil prices much higher, unless a specific military or economic activity occurs that actually limits the flow of oil."
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
County City Unl Pre Imperial County El Centro 1.705 1.879 Inyo County Bishop 1.779 1.904 Kern County Bakersfield 1.680 1.864 Ridgecrest 1.639 1.778 Los Angeles County Alhambra 1.568 1.689 Arcadia 1.639 1.859 Burbank 1.632 1.774 Culver City 1.699 1.899 Glendale 1.617 1.799 Glendora 1.607 1.726 Inglewood 1.627 1.739 Lancaster 1.653 1.889 Long Beach 1.634 1.841 Los Angeles 1.643 1.832 Manhattan Beach 1.584 1.739 Montebello 1.627 1.704 Santa Clarita 1.629 1.784 Santa Monica 1.683 1.859 Van Nuys 1.598 1.777 Whittier 1.598 1.819 Woodland Hills 1.627 1.811 Orange County Anaheim 1.621 1.820 Fullerton 1.599 1.779 Huntington Beach 1.632 1.794 La Habra 1.589 1.702 Newport Beach 1.686 1.806 San Clemente 1.712 1.949 Riverside County Blythe 1.800 1.924 Hemet 1.662 1.929 Palm Springs 1.749 1.873 Riverside 1.625 1.709 San Bernardino County Redlands 1.652 1.799 San Bernardino 1.653 1.809 Victorville 1.634 1.801 San Diego County Chula Vista 1.660 1.869 Del Mar 1.689 1.899 Escondido 1.659 1.807 Oceanside 1.675 1.889 San Diego 1.692 1.867 San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo 1.672 1.812 Santa Barbara County Lompoc 1.692 1.825 Santa Barbara 1.680 1.859 Santa Maria 1.679 1.794 Tulare County Porterville 1.514 1.669 Visalia 1.600 1.804 Ventura County Ventura 1.680 1.800 So. Calif. Avg. 1.652 1.816
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.