AAA Texas: Weekend Gas Watch; Prices in Austin Jump -- Most of Texas Drop

HOUSTON--Nov. 1, 20034, 2003--While the price of gasoline decreased in many of the major Texas cities, prices in Austin jumped substantially over the past week, according to the Weekend Gas Watch by AAA Texas.

The Texas average for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline is $1.39 - two pennies less than last week's average and only a penny more than last year's average. Corpus Christi still has the cheapest fuel for the tenth straight week, averaging $1.26 a gallon - a drop of less than a penny. San Antonio is next at $1.34 a gallon - a decline of two cents. Austin is the only city on the list that saw an increase - up nearly seven cents to $1.37 a gallon. Dallas tops the list at $1.40 a gallon - down nearly two pennies.

"While prices jumped nearly seven cents a gallon in Austin, pump prices there are still the third lowest in the state," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "The continued easing of gas prices is a positive development for motorists planning to travel during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday."

AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for automobile trips.

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

Area                    Regular         Change         Record Price
----                   --------       ----------     ----------------
Austin-San Marcos       $1.368        +6.8 cents     $1.580 (3/19/03)

Corpus Christi          $1.257        -0.4 cent      $1.590 (2/20/03)

Dallas                  $1.399        -1.9 cents     $1.666 (5/12/01)

Fort Worth              $1.392        -1.5 cents     $1.660 (5/22/01)

Houston                 $1.372        -2.0 cents     $1.639 (5/12/01)

San Antonio             $1.338        -2.0 cents     $1.582 (3/18/03)