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Southern California Gas Prices Increase 6.5 Cents

15 December 1999

Southern California Gas Prices Increase 6.5 Cents

    LOS ANGELES--Dec. 14, 1999--Gas prices in Southern California rose 6.5 cents per gallon in December, the first increase in 4 months according to according to the Automobile Club of Southern California Fuel Gauge Report.
    The December average price of regular self serve unleaded is $1.424 compares with $1.359 on November 16. Prices had been declining since September. With this increase, prices are 22.4 cents higher than December 1998, when the average Southern California fuel price was $1.20.
    The Southern California average price compares with a December statewide average of $1.427. The November national average is $1.31 cents per gallon -- up 2.8 cents compared with November.
    Travelers to Northern California can expect to pay an average of $1.45 per gallon for regular, up a penny from last month. San Francisco prices are higher at an average of $1.52 per gallon for regular, up a penny as well.
    Analysts expect that pump prices will continue to be influenced by production limits set by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), even though Iraq has resumed selling oil based on the United Nation's six month extension that was signed on Saturday. The per barrel price for oil has fluctuated in recent days, settling in yesterday at $25.38 per barrel on the NYMEX. Prices could fluctuate depending upon demand for heating oil this winter.
    In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below for 48 communities, listed by county:


County                          UNL          PRE


Imperial County


El Centro                      1.475        1.699


Kern County


Bakersfield                    1.471        1.670

Ridgecrest                     1.448        1.667


Los Angeles County


Alhambra                       1.299        1.519

Arcadia                        1.406        1.523

Burbank                        1.354        1.537

Culver City                    1.418        1.587

Glendale                       1.341        1.560

Glendora                       1.343        1.467

Inglewood                      1.335        1.491

Lancaster                      1.357        1.558

Long Beach                     1.351        1.537

Los Angeles                    1.411        1.588

Manhattan Beach                1.371        1.629

Montebello                     1.368        1.554

Santa Monica                   1.454        1.604

Van Nuys                       1.330        1.494

Whittier                       1.361        1.544

Woodland Hills                 1.357        1.543


Orange County


Anaheim                        1.345        1.517

Fullerton                      1.355        1.548

Huntington Beach               1.286        1.499

La Habra                       1.316        1.459

Laguna Hills                   1.397        1.535

Newport Beach                  1.401        1.579

San Clemente                   1.477        1.692

Tustin                         1.369        1.458


Riverside County


Blythe                         1.571        1.771

Hemet                          1.492        1.669

Palm Springs                   1.504        1.699

Riverside                      1.410        1.587


San Diego County


Chula Vista                    1.473        1.647

Clairemont

Del Mar                        1.476        1.689

Escondido                      1.387        1.606

Oceanside                      1.394        1.696

San Diego                      1.429        1.623


San Bernardino County


Redlands                       1.445        1.625

San Bernardino                 1.446        1.588

Victorville                    1.406        1.639


Santa Barbara County


Lompoc                         1.584        1.799

Santa Barbara                  1.594        1.756

Santa Maria                    1.559        1.699


San Luis Obispo County


San Luis Obispo                1.554        1.678


Tulare County


Porterville                    1.470        1.479

Visalia                        1.448        1.623


Ventura County


Ventura                        1.557        1.734


Inyo County


Bishop                         1.546        1.731



So.Calif Avg.                   1.42         1.60



    The Auto Club's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 2,800 Southern California gas stations. The data is provided by Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information.
    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's emergency road service, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs and legislative advocacy. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.