AAA TEXAS: Weekend Gas Watch; New Record Highs in Texas Cities

    HOUSTON--Feb. 14, 2003--Gasoline prices throughout the state and the country soared this week, with some Texas cities setting new record highs, according to the Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by AAA Texas. The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips.
    The statewide average price for a gallon of regular self-serve fuel jumped nine cents to $1.58 -- three pennies shy of the record high of $1.61 a gallon, set in May 2001. San Antonio and the Austin - San Marcos area have the least expensive fuel at $1.56 a gallon. The Austin - San Marcos area jumped more than nine cents since a week ago, while the Alamo City saw an increase of more than eleven cents. Motorists in Corpus Christi saw the biggest increase -- up 12 cents to $1.58 a gallon. Dallas has the most expensive fuel on the list at $1.59 a gallon -- up nine cents compared to last week.
    "The Austin - San Marcos area, Corpus Christi and San Antonio all set new record highs this week," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "Much of the rise can be attributed to reduced shipments of oil from Venezuela and the potential war with Iraq."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Feb. 14, 2003:

Area                   Regular       Change        Record Price
----                   -------       ------        ------------
Austin - San Marcos    $1.563      +9.3 cents     $1.563 (2/13/03)
Corpus Christi         $1.575     +12.0 cents     $1.575 (2/13/03)
Dallas                 $1.585      +9.0 cents     $1.666 (5/12/01)
Ft. Worth              $1.578      +9.0 cents     $1.660 (5/22/01)
Houston                $1.582      +8.7 cents     $1.639 (5/12/01)
San Antonio            $1.563     +11.2 cents     $1.563 (2/13/03)

    AAA Texas, LLC, an affiliate of the AAA, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance, travel agency, insurance, financial products, automotive products, trip planning services and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' Web site at www.aaa-texas.com.