Fourth Straight Monthly Decline in Northern California Gas Prices, AAA Reports; 27-cent Drop Since September; Prices 20 Percent Higher Than Last Year
16 January 2001
Fourth Straight Monthly Decline in Northern California Gas Prices, AAA Reports; 27-cent Drop Since September; Prices 20 Percent Higher Than Last Year
SAN FRANCISCO--Jan. 16, 2001--Bringing Northern Californians a bit of relief from higher utility rates, gas prices declined for the fourth consecutive month, AAA reported today.The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded self-serve gas in Northern California is $1.71, down 13 cents from December and down 27 cents from the record high set in September, according to AAA's monthly gas survey. The Bay Area average is $1.78, down 12 cents from last month, but still 32 cents higher than a year ago.
"This is welcome news to start out the New Year for Northern California motorists, but we're nearing the end of the ride for lower gas prices," said AAA spokeswoman, Bronwyn Hogan. "We expect prices will continue to drop a more few cents in the next several weeks, then stabilize until May or June."
Chico and Fresno now tie for the lowest gas in Northern California, at $1.55, with Chico down 13 cents since December. Fresno, down 18 cents, has the largest one-month drop in January for Northern California. San Francisco and San Mateo, down 11 cents and 10 cents respectively, report the highest gas price in the region at $1.88.
California has the third most expensive gas in the country at $1.65, down 9 cents from December, but up 25 cents from a year ago. Hawaii, at $2.01 has the highest gas in the U.S., followed by Alaska at $1.70. Nevada is fourth with $1.64. Southern California reports an average of $1.60, down a dime, with Los Angeles at $1.54.
Nationally, AAA reports the average price of gas at $1.473 per gallon, up 0.4 cent in the last month, but up 18.3 cents since last January. The states with the lowest regular unleaded gas in the country are South Carolina, ($1.37), Oklahoma, ($1.36) and Georgia, reporting $1.34 per gallon.
"The market has already factored in tomorrow's expected OPEC cutback of 1.5 million barrels per day," said Alan Kovski, Managing Editor, Energy Business Watch, "so barring a drastic shift in production or a severe change in winter, the prices should continue their penny-by-penny decline through mid-February, then remain stable until late spring when the driving season begins."
AAA Monthly Gas Price Averages, January 16, 2001
CITY/STATE PRICE CHANGE
NOR. CALIF. 1.71 down 13 cents
BAY AREA 1.78 down 12 cents
CHICO 1.55 down 13 cents
CONCORD 1.66 down 17 cents
EUREKA 1.79 down 14 cents
FREMONT 1.76 down 11 cents
FRESNO 1.55 down 18 cents
LAKE TAHOE 1.77 down 18 cents
MARYSVILLE 1.56 down 12 cents
MODESTO 1.64 down 14 cents
MONTEREY 1.63 down 16 cents
OAKLAND 1.81 down 12 cents
PLEASANTON 1.78 down 13 cents
REDDING 1.61 down 11 cents
SACRAMENTO 1.65 down 15 cents
SALINAS 1.64 down 11 cents
SAN FRANCISCO 1.88 down 11 cents
SAN JOSE 1.78 down 11 cents
SAN MATEO 1.88 down 10 cents
SAN RAFAEL 1.82 down 6 cents
SANTA CRUZ 1.70 down 17 cents
SANTA ROSA 1.70 down 15 cents
STOCKTON 1.68 down 13 cents
TRACY 1.61 down 15 cents
UKIAH 1.78 down 11 cents
VALLEJO 1.72 down 12 cents
YREKA 1.71 down 12 cents
NEVADA 1.64 down 11 cents
CARSON CITY 1.53 down 9 cents
ELKO 1.60 down 17 cents
LAS VEGAS 1.65 down 10 cents
RENO 1.55 down 13 cents
SPARKS 1.54 new New
UTAH 1.42 down 11 cents
MOAB 1.62 down 8 cents
OGDEN 1.35 down 10 cents
OREM 1.33 down 18 cents
PROVO 1.38 down 17 cents
SALT LAKE CITY 1.37 down 11 cents
ST. GEORGE 1.53 down 5 cents
SOUTHERN CALIF. 1.60 down 10 cents
BAKERSFIELD 1.60 down 10 cents
LOS ANGELES 1.54 down 10 cents
SANTA BARBARA 1.80 down 10 cents
CALIFORNIA AVG. 1.65 down 9 cents
NATIONAL AVG. 1.473 up .4 cent
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Light Sweet Crude: $30.35, up 66 cents
(NYMEX) from 12/12/00
AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 60,000 self-serve stations surveyed daily every day. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express, LLC.
Established 100 years ago, AAA offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. The California State Automobile Association serves four million members and is the second largest regional affiliate of the national AAA organization.