Easing of War Anxiety Helps Push Gas Prices Down: AAA Texas Monthly Fuel Gauge Report

    HOUSTON--April 15, 2003--The average gas price for Texas has dropped 10 cents since last month, reflecting a national drop in gas and crude oil prices from all-time highs created by war anxieties, according to the AAA Texas Monthly Fuel Gauge Report.
    Statewide, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $1.472, making Texas one of about a dozen states in the U.S. with average gas prices below $1.50. Last year at this time, gas prices were about 10 cents lower in Texas.
    Nationally, the average price of gasoline is $1.595, 12 cents lower than last month but nearly 18 cents higher than during April of last year, when the average was $1.418. The reduction over the past month was largely caused by a 25 percent reduction in crude oil prices after concerns eased about supply during wartime.
    "Adequate gasoline supplies have continued during the Iraqi conflict, helping to reduce prices at the pump for consumers," said Carol Thorp, spokesperson for AAA Texas.
    AAA's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data from Oil Price Information Service, the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information.
    AAA Texas, an affiliate of AAA National, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas' members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance service, insurance and financial products, travel agency, automotive pricing, buying and financing, 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.

                  AAA TEXAS FUEL GAUGE MONTHLY REPORT
             AVERAGE PRICE OF SELF-SERVE REGULAR GASOLINE

City                       State               Price        Last Month

Abilene                     TX                 1.553           1.586
Amarillo                    TX                 1.398           1.581
Austin                      TX                 1.450           1.547
Beaumont                    TX                 1.481           1.594
Brownsville                 TX                 1.445           1.504
Corpus Christi              TX                 1.408           1.549
Dallas                      TX                 1.538           1.602
El Paso                     TX                 1.505           1.550
Fort Worth                  TX                 1.511           1.585
Houston                     TX                 1.510           1.585
Laredo                      TX                 1.416           1.567
Longview                    TX                 1.456           1.586
Lubbock                     TX                 1.413           1.591
Midland                     TX                 1.496           1.596
Odessa                      TX                 1.498           1.584
San Antonio                 TX                 1.463           1.533
Waco                        TX                 1.489           1.542

Average                                        1.472           1.57