AAA Texas: Weekend Gas Watch; Prices Move Higher

HOUSTON--Dec. 16, 2005--Retail gasoline prices in Texas have increased nearly a dime in the last two weeks, according to the AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch.

The statewide average price for a gallon of regular self serve is $2.144 a gallon -- a weekly increase of about seven cents. Dallas takes the lead this week as the city with the highest average on the list -- up eight cents to $2.165 a gallon. Corpus Christi's average went up 10 cents, but still remain the lowest priced at $2.065 a gallon.

"Despite an 82 cent decrease since Labor Day, the current $2.14 average is the highest ever non-inflation adjusted price heading into the Christmas holiday," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "As the price of crude continues to hover near $60 a barrel, pump prices are expected to continue to inch upward."

The national average for regular self-serve gasoline is $2.192 a gallon -- four cents higher than last week's average.

AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline in Texas.

Average Daily Prices as of 12:01 AM, December 16, 2005:

                              Weekly               Weekly
Area             12/15/05     Change    12/9/05    Change    12/02/05
---------------- --------- ------------ -------- ----------- ---------
National           $2.192   +4.3 cents   $2.149  +1.3 cents   $2.136
State              $2.144   +6.8 cents   $2.076  +1.8 cents   $2.058
Austin - San
 Marcos            $2.112   +5.2 cents   $2.060  +0.4 cent    $2.056
Beaumont           $2.134   +3.2 cents   $2.102  -3.1 cents   $2.133
Corpus Christi     $2.065  +10.3 cents   $1.962  +7.5 cents   $1.887
Dallas             $2.165   +8.2 cents   $2.083  +2.5 cents   $2.058
Ft. Worth          $2.155   +8.5 cents   $2.070  +1.9 cents   $2.051
Galveston -Texas
 City              $2.138   +5.1 cents   $2.087  +1.8 cents   $2.069
Houston            $2.141   +7.4 cents   $2.067  +0.5 cent    $2.062
San Antonio        $2.084   +7.5 cents   $2.009  +1.8 cents   $1.991


Area               Record High      2004 Average
---------------- ---------------- ----------------
National          $3.057 (9/5/05)     $1.829
State             $2.964 (9/4/05)     $1.735
Austin - San
 Marcos           $2.918 (9/6/05)     $1.727
Beaumont          $2.930 (9/4/05)     $1.707
Corpus Christi    $2.929 (9/3/05)     $1.645
Dallas            $3.019 (9/4/05)     $1.745
Ft. Worth         $3.012 (9/4/05)     $1.727
Galveston -Texas
 City             $2.997 (9/4/05)     $1.735
Houston           $2.971 (9/6/05)     $1.730
San Antonio       $2.909 (9/4/05)     $1.690