AAA Texas: Weekend Gas Watch; Pump Prices Hold Steady

HOUSTON--Feb. 1, 20043, 2004--Gasoline prices in Texas held relatively steady, according to AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch.

Currently, the Texas average for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline is $1.55 -- the same average for the third straight week. Once again, Corpus Christi and San Antonio tie for the least expensive fuel -- averaging $1.51 a gallon. Both dropped six-tenths of a penny. Beaumont showed the biggest gain -- slightly more than two pennies for an average of $1.54 a gallon. Dallas remains at the top of the list at $1.57 a gallon -- up a tenth of a penny.

"Retail gasoline prices in Texas have basically held steady for three consecutive weeks, despite crude oil prices remaining above $30 a barrel," said Rose Rougeau of AAA Texas. "High oil prices combined with a recent decision by OPEC to cut its output by 10% does not inspire confidence that gasoline prices will move much lower anytime soon."

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., Feb. 13, 2004:

Area                  Current        Change         Record Price
------               ---------     -----------    -----------------
Austin-San Marcos     $1.526        -0.3 cent      $1.580 (3/19/03)

Beaumont              $1.543        +2.1 cents     $1.609 (3/18/03)

Corpus Christi        $1.505        -0.6 cent      $1.590 (2/20/03)

Dallas                $1.569        +0.1 cent      $1.666 (5/12/01)

Fort Worth            $1.555          n/c          $1.660 (5/22/01)

Galveston -           $1.547          n/c          $1.653 (5/16/01)
Texas City

Houston               $1.550        -0.2 cent      $1.639 (5/12/01)

San Antonio           $1.505        -0.6 cent      $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.