Auto Club: Gas Prices Continue Slow Slide

    LOS ANGELES--July 4, 2003--Gasoline prices, which began declining two weeks ago, continued their slide last week as Southland motorists prepare for the Independence Day holiday, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch.
    Currently, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $1.767 per gallon, which is seven-tenths of a cent lower than last week's price, 2 cents higher than last month and 14 cents higher than last year.
    In San Diego, the price is $1.778, which is four-tenths of a cent below last week's level, 7 cents above last month and 13 cents above last year. Motorists in the central coast have an average price of $1.883, which is 1.1 cents lower than last week's price, the same as last month and 18 cents higher than last year.
    "For two weeks we've seen stability in wholesale prices, which is a big factor in keeping pump prices in check," said Carol Thorp, spokesperson for the Automobile Club of Southern California. "There is ample supply of gasoline, so people traveling by car this holiday weekend should have no trouble getting gas."
    The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips. Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., July 4:

Area                              Regular  Change from  Record Price
                                            last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach            $1.767  -0.7 cents  $2.167 (3/22/03)

San Diego                         $1.778  -0.4 cents  $2.211 (3/20/03)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc                            $1.883  -1.1 cents  $2.207 (3/22/03)

Las Vegas                         $1.715  -1.7 cents  $2.063 (3/25/03)

Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.               $1.645  -2.2 cents  $2.003 (3/22/03)