Auto Club: Gas Prices Down From Last Month But Turning Upward
LOS ANGELES--June 17, 2003--While the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Southern California is 9.5 cents lower than last month, it has started climbing again in the past few days, 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 $1.801, down from $1.896 on May 13, but about four cents higher than last week and 19 cents higher than a year ago. The lowest average price in the state is Lancaster, where drivers can pump regular self-serve unleaded gasoline for $1.69. Blythe has the highest average price at $2.01. San Francisco Bay-area motorists now pay an average of $1.88, down from $1.96, in May.
Nationally, prices are up about 1.7 cents since the May AAA survey, and are now averaging $1.514 per gallon. Georgia continues to have the lowest state average at $1.357, up five cents from last month.
"Three Northern California refineries have reported production problems in recent days, which has reduced overall production by about 17% in the past two weeks, and that has pushed prices up in the state," said Auto Club Spokesperson Carol Thorp. "Also, crude oil prices have climbed above $30 per barrel in recent weeks on speculation about when Iraq will begin shipping oil again."
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
County Unl Pre Imperial County El Centro 1.935 2.104 Inyo County Bishop 1.923 2.045 Kern County Bakersfield 1.800 2.006 Ridgecrest 1.886 2.008 Los Angeles County Alhambra 1.763 1.899 Arcadia 1.770 1.999 Burbank 1.773 1.939 Culver City 1.813 1.972 Glendale 1.776 1.962 Glendora 1.770 1.906 Inglewood 1.779 2.006 Lancaster 1.691 1.899 Long Beach 1.789 1.959 Los Angeles 1.796 2.004 Manhattan Beach 1.815 2.009 Montebello 1.804 2.034 Santa Clarita 1.747 1.919 Santa Monica 1.807 2.004 Van Nuys 1.749 1.904 Whittier 1.803 1.944 Woodland Hills 1.750 1.946 Orange County Anaheim 1.766 1.951 Fullerton 1.772 1.974 Huntington Beach 1.807 2.022 La Habra 1.744 1.927 Laguna Beach 1.799 1.972 Newport Beach 1.873 2.069 San Clemente 1.816 2.016 Tustin 1.785 1.957 Riverside County Blythe 2.017 2.199 Hemet 1.712 1.884 Palm Springs 1.886 2.039 Riverside 1.731 1.943 San Bernardino County Redlands 1.769 1.964 San Bernardino 1.742 1.941 Victorville 1.702 1.879 San Diego County Chula Vista 1.754 1.935 Del Mar 1.762 1.899 Escondido 1.703 1.922 Oceanside 1.773 1.959 San Diego 1.771 1.967 San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo 1.837 2.019 Santa Barbara County Lompoc 1.948 2.162 Santa Barbara 1.890 2.069 Santa Maria 1.861 2.014 Tulare County Porterville 1.861 2.049 Visalia 1.816 2.024 Ventura County Ventura 1.802 2.019 So. Calif. Avg. 1.801 1.984
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.