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Labor Day Fuel Prices Reflect Big Drop From Last Year

27 August 1998

Labor Day Fuel Prices Reflect Big Drop From Last Year

    BELLEVUE, Wash., Aug. 27 -- AAA Washington's Labor Day Fuel
Gauge Report shows the regional average price of self-serve, regular unleaded
gasoline is $1.120, 18 cents below Labor Day 1997. Travelers will find prices
relatively unchanged from July Fourth.
    Nationally, Labor Day prices are the lowest in nine years with the U.S.
average for self-serve, unleaded fuel at $1.07. The summer's stable gasoline
prices are attributed to higher than normal oil inventory levels, according to
the Oil Price Information Service.
    Summer's final weekend hurrah finds Washington's travelers headed out in
record numbers, by car and by plane. Favorite destinations for Washington
travelers are the Oregon and Washington coasts, Vancouver, Victoria, Las
Vegas, and Los Angeles area theme parks.
    AAA Washington is a not-for-profit organization with 13 offices in central
and western Washington. The club provides more than 570,000 members with
travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.
    EDITOR: Please see attached chart for local gasoline prices.


                          Area by Area Comparison of
                   Self-Serve Regular Unleaded Fuel Prices

    City                           Labor Day 98     July 4 '98   Labor Day 97

    Bellevue/Eastside                   1.13           1.139          1.32
    Bellingham                          1.10           1.139          1.31
    Bremerton                           N/A            1.01           1.31
    Everett                             1.14           1.153          1.31
    Lynnwood                            1.12           N/A            1.30
    Olympia                             1.13           1.13           1.30
    Renton                              N/A            1.098          N/A
    Seattle                             1.16           1.16           1.33
    Tacoma                              1.11           1.149          1.29
    Tri-Cities                          1.08           1.086          1.14
    Vancouver                           1.08           1.135          1.34
    Wenatchee                           1.15           1.179          1.36
    Yakima                              1.12           1.123          1.29

    AVERAGE                             1.120          1.125          1.30