AAA Texas: Weekend Gas Watch; High Gas Prices, But Relief May Be Near

HOUSTON--Jan. 3, 20040, 2004--Retail gasoline prices continued to move higher this week, according to AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch.

Currently, the Texas average for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline is $1.55 -- two cents more than last week's average and about 15 cents more than last month's average of $1.40 a gallon. Once again, Amarillo has the cheapest fuel at $1.50 a gallon -- up about two pennies compared to last week. Corpus Christi is the only city that posted a decrease -- down a tenth of a penny at $1.53. Houston showed the biggest jump this week, up three cents to an average of $1.55 a gallon. Dallas remains at the top of the list at $1.56 a gallon -- up nearly three pennies.

"Some relief at the pumps may be in sight," said Rose Rougeau of AAA Texas. "The price of crude oil retreated to near $32 a barrel this week after topping $36 a barrel last week."

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

Average Daily Prices as of 12:01 a.m., Jan. 30, 2004:

Area                   Current       Change           Record Price
----                   -------      ----------      ---------------
Amarillo               $1.495       +2.1 cents      $1.683 (6/1/01)

Austin-San Marcos      $1.522       +1.0 cent       $1.580 (3/19/03)

Beaumont               $1.529       +1.6 cents      $1.609 (3/18/03)

Corpus Christi         $1.532       -0.1 cent       $1.590 (2/20/03)

Dallas                 $1.562       +2.6 cents      $1.666 (5/12/01)

Fort Worth             $1.544       +2.6 cents      $1.660 (5/22/01)

Galveston -            $1.534       +1.4 cents      $1.653 (5/16/01)
Texas City

Houston                $1.549       +3.0 cents      $1.639 (5/12/01)

San Antonio            $1.513       +1.1 cents      $1.582 (3/18/03)

AAA Texas, an affiliate of AAA National, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance service, travel agency, financial products, insurance products and services, 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.