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Gas Price Increases to Highest Level in 2 Years, AAA Survey Shows

22 September 1999

Gas Price Increases to Highest Level in 2 Years, AAA Survey Shows

    ORLANDO, Fla.--Sept. 21, 1999--Gasoline prices are now at their highest point since September 1997, increasing another 2.7 cents per gallon in the last month, according to AAA.
    AAA's monthly Fuel Gauge Report shows self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.282 per gallon nationwide, only slightly less expensive than the average price of $1.288 reached in September 1997. The price is 22 cents higher than in September a year ago when the average price was $1.057.
    Gas prices have increased each of the last seven months since February when the average fuel price was .96 cents; an increase of 32.2 cents per gallon.
    Self-serve mid-grade averages $1.366 per gallon, a 2.4-cent rise in the last month; and self-serve premium averages $1.425, up 2.6 cents in the last month.
    Self-serve regular unleaded gasoline is most expensive in the West at $1.422 per gallon, up .7 cent from last month and 21.1 cents higher than last September. It is least expensive in the Southeast at $1.198 cents, up 3.2 cents this month and 22.4 cents from one year ago.
    Other regional prices for self-serve regular unleaded are: New England, $1.309 per gallon, 4.3 cents higher than last month and 25.1 cents higher than a year ago; Mid-Atlantic, $1.262, up 3.7 cents since last month and 22.1 cents from last year; Great Lakes, $1.274, 3.1 cents higher than a month ago and 25.3 cents above last year; Midwest, $1.229 up 2.9 cents from July and 21.4 cents higher than a year ago; and Southwest, $1.226, 1.7 cents higher than last month and up 21.4 cents from last year.
    The national average prices for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline for the last six months were: August, $1.255; July, $1.174 per gallon; June, $1.142; May, $1.157; April $1.15; March, 97 cents.
    The national average prices for September in the last five years were: 1998, $1.057 per gallon; 1997, $1.288; 1996, $1.255; 1995, $1.168; 1994, $1.188.
    AAA's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data from Oil Price Information Service - the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information (800/929-4824, ext. 2645).
    AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 90 clubs with 1,100 offices providing 42 million members in the United States and Canada with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.

    AAA news releases can be downloaded from http://www.aaa.com/news