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LA Auto Club: Gas Prices Continue Free Fall Because of Decreased Demand

LOS ANGELES--Aug. 1, 20047, 2004--Southern California gas prices fell 14 cents a gallon on average since July, but remain almost 40 cents higher on average than at this time last year, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's monthly Fuel Gauge Report.

The Southern California August average price for regular self-serve unleaded gasoline is $2.108, down from July 13's average price of $2.247. The statewide average price for August is $2.107.

"Summer gasoline demand typically peaks in August, but so far prices have continued falling because demand has not been as high as anticipated," said Auto Club spokeswoman Carol Thorp. "If supplies remain steady, we could see a continued price decrease through Labor Day and beyond."

The lowest average price in Southern California -- and the only local average under $2 -- is in La Habra, where prices are averaging $1.991. Santa Barbara has the highest average price in Southern California at $2.289, while Eureka has the highest average gas price in the state at $2.352. Nationally, the average price is $1.862, down from $1.917 in July.

In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:

County/City          Reg Aug. 17 Prem Aug. 17 Reg Jul. 13 Prem Jul. 13
Imperial County
El Centro                  2.203       2.406        2.256       2.459

Inyo County
Bishop                     2.239       2.447        2.376       2.584

Kern County
Bakersfield                2.045       2.199        2.205       2.393
Ridgecrest                 2.219       2.432        2.337       2.549

Los Angeles County
Alhambra                   2.025       2.239        2.217       2.409
Arcadia                    2.073       2.339        2.206       2.439
Burbank                    2.061       2.289        2.194       2.399
Culver City                2.149       2.459        2.249       2.416
Glendale                   2.086       2.224        2.210       2.382
Glendora                   2.007       2.240        2.170       2.402
Inglewood                  2.067       2.232        2.215       2.459
Lancaster                  2.036       2.248        2.197       2.409
Long Beach                 2.064       2.265        2.210       2.449
Los Angeles                2.105       2.290        2.238       2.437
Manhattan Beach            2.071       2.279        2.279       2.446
Montebello                 2.076       2.259        2.272       2.439
Santa Clarita              2.077       2.244        2.285       2.452
Santa Monica               2.154       2.459        2.258       2.534
Van Nuys                   2.010       2.172        2.192       2.339
Whittier                   2.028       2.239        2.182       2.361
Woodland Hills             2.066       2.274        2.232       2.435

Orange County
Anaheim                    2.001       2.204        2.160       2.321
Fullerton                  2.010       2.199        2.164       2.345
Huntington Beach           2.009       2.231        2.189       2.423
La Habra                   1.991       2.206        2.134       2.227
Laguna Beach               2.164       2.256        2.293       2.385
Newport Beach              2.181       2.319        2.280       2.511
San Clemente               2.206       2.499        2.326       2.554
Tustin                     2.095       2.329        2.229       2.393

Riverside County
Blythe                     2.267       2.469        2.372       2.639
Hemet                      2.045       2.339        2.190       2.425
Palm Springs               2.209       2.488        2.350       2.629
Riverside                  2.049       2.180        2.216       2.316

San Bernardino County
Redlands                   2.107       2.312        2.234       2.484
San Bernardino             2.070       2.369        2.224       2.405
Victorville                2.112       2.332        2.210       2.404

San Diego County
Chula Vista                2.134       2.499        2.256       2.487
Del Mar                    2.209       2.339        2.257       2.424
Escondido                  2.023       2.242        2.169       2.396
Oceanside                  2.091       2.406        2.222       2.443
San Diego                  2.126       2.296        2.238       2.453

San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo            2.169       2.379        2.299       2.514

Santa Barbara County
Lompoc                     2.288       2.399        2.412       2.647
Santa Barbara              2.289       2.519        2.344       2.579
Santa Maria                2.237       2.327        2.363       2.452

Tulare County
Porterville                2.134       2.304        2.244       2.414
Visalia                    2.077       2.329        2.256       2.432

Ventura County
Ventura                    2.045       2.299        2.240       2.441

Southern Calif. Average    2.108       2.319        2.247       2.444

The Auto Club's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 2,800 Southern California gas stations. Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information, provides the data.