AAA Texas: Weekend Gas Watch; New Prices -- New Records

HOUSTON--May 2, 20041, 2004--For the third straight week, all Texas cities surveyed have set new weekly records, according to AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch.

The national average for regular self-serve gasoline edged passed the $2 mark this week to $2.010, six cents higher than last week's average, and 51 cents higher than last year's average. The Texas average for a gallon of regular self-serve jumped 6.5 cents to $1.882 per gallon.

The most affordable gasoline on the list can be found in Corpus Christi at $1.842 per gallon, up 7.8 cents. Corpus Christi also had the cheapest gas last year at an average of $1.260 per gallon. The Galveston-Texas City area posted the biggest gain of 7.9 cents per gallon to $1.864. Dallas tops the list at an average of $1.891 per gallon -- up 6.9 cents per gallon compared to last week.

"For the third consecutive week, all Texas cities surveyed not only set new weekly records," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "But, new records were set every single day for the past three weeks in every city. Despite these record high prices, motorists are expected to travel in record numbers this Memorial Day holiday."

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

Average Daily Prices as of 12:01 AM, May 21, 2004:

                                Weekly           New          Year
     Area         Current       Change      Record Price    Ago Price
--------------- ----------- -------------- --------------- -----------

National          $2.010     + 6.0 cents   $2.010(5/20/04)   $1.497

State             $1.882     + 6.5 cents   $1.882(5/20/04)   $1.383

Austin-San
 Marcos           $1.866     + 6.5 cents   $1.866(5/20/04)   $1.324

Beaumont          $1.855     + 6.9 cents   $1.855(5/20/04)   $1.370

Corpus Christi    $1.842     + 7.8 cents   $1.842(5/20/04)   $1.260

Dallas            $1.891     + 6.9 cents   $1.891(5/20/04)   $1.407

Fort Worth        $1.876     + 6.1 cents   $1.876(5/20/04)   $1.391

Galveston -       $1.864     + 7.9 cents   $1.864(5/20/04)   $1.387
Texas City

Houston           $1.872     + 6.8 cents   $1.872(5/20/04)   $1.374

San Antonio       $1.860     + 6.1 cents   $1.860(5/20/04)   $1.329

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.