Auto Club: International Turmoil, Panic Pricing Pushes Gas Prices to 19-Month High
LOS ANGELES--Feb. 11, 2003--Industry fear and speculation concerning war with Iraq and the possibility of another terrorist strike on the United States continue to push average retail gasoline prices to levels not seen since July 2001, 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 $1.725, up more than 11 cents from the Jan. 14 average of $1.611. The lowest average price in the region can be found in Ridgecrest, where drivers can pump regular self-serve unleaded gasoline for $1.631. San Francisco Bay Area motorists now pay an average of $1.86, up 14 cents from last month.
Nationally, the average price for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline rose nearly 14 cents to $1.605. Georgia has the lowest state average at $1.485, about 13 cents higher than last month.
"Prices are moving higher than supply and demand warrant," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "We believe that this is in part a panicked response by wholesalers and retailers to as-yet undetermined oil supply shortfalls due to an as-yet unannounced war. We expected some increase due to the ongoing strike in Venezuela and higher demand for heating oil brought on by colder temperatures in the northern states, but not on this level."
To cushion family budgets, consumers are urged to shop aggressively for the best price on gasoline, look for ways to limit their gasoline consumption and keep their vehicles properly maintained to increase fuel economy, Thorp added.
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
County Reg Pre Imperial County El Centro 1.767 1.982 Inyo County Bishop 1.859 1.978 Kern County Bakersfield 1.655 1.845 Ridgecrest 1.631 1.823 Los Angeles County Alhambra 1.662 1.882 Arcadia 1.720 1.939 Burbank 1.697 1.889 Culver City 1.767 1.979 Glendale 1.685 1.866 Glendora 1.709 1.899 Inglewood 1.718 1.899 Lancaster 1.679 1.899 Long Beach 1.721 1.910 Los Angeles 1.721 1.933 Manhattan Beach 1.727 1.939 Montebello 1.713 1.842 Santa Clarita 1.764 1.959 Santa Monica 1.785 1.966 Van Nuys 1.664 1.785 Whittier 1.695 1.902 Woodland Hills 1.703 1.931 Orange County Anaheim 1.671 1.851 Fullerton 1.698 1.864 Huntington Beach 1.707 1.919 La Habra 1.679 1.859 Laguna Beach 1.854 1.998 Newport Beach 1.803 1.974 San Clemente 1.775 1.986 Riverside County Blythe 1.908 2.079 Hemet 1.680 1.899 Palm Springs 1.771 1.959 Riverside 1.685 1.829 San Bernardino County Redlands 1.684 1.887 San Bernardino 1.701 1.911 Victorville 1.667 1.864 San Diego County Chula Vista 1.748 1.969 Del Mar 1.772 1.959 Escondido 1.729 1.907 Oceanside 1.775 1.989 San Diego 1.765 1.956 San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo 1.698 1.879 Santa Barbara County Lompoc 1.725 1.919 Santa Barbara 1.805 2.059 Santa Maria 1.732 1.923 Tulare County Porterville 1.637 1.839 Visalia 1.664 1.892 Ventura County Ventura 1.711 1.924 So. Calif. Avg. 1.725 1.918
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.