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Gas Prices Soar to New Monthly High

(LOS ANGELES, August 17, 2005) — Southern California's average price for regular gasoline catapulted 18 cents during the past month to hit a new all-time record monthly average, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report.

The Southern California August average price for regular self-serve gasoline is $2.774, which compares to a July 19 average of $2.592. This shatters the prior all time monthly average record of $2.642 set in April 2005. The new record also exceeds the August 2004 average by more than 66 cents.

"Traders and speculators have driven up the price of crude oil and gasoline over concerns about continued high demand in the face of refinery outages and international terror issues," said Auto Club spokeswoman Carol Thorp. "On this speculation, crude oil, which was declining a month ago, made an about face and has reached new highs in the $66 per barrel range.

"One way consumers can reduce the amount of money they spend on fuel is to moderate their driving habits, keep their vehicle well maintained, combine errands on the weekends and shop for the lowest price," added Thorp. "We'd also recommend they look into carpooling, van pooling or using transit."

Statewide, the average price for August is $2.773, up from $2.589 in July. The lowest average price in California is in La Habra, where regular is selling for $2.651. Palm Springs reported the state's highest average price at $2.866. Nationally, the average price is $2.564, up from $2.314 in July.

In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:

County/City Unl 7-19 Unl 6-14 Pre 7-19 Pre 6-14
Imperial County    

El Centro

2.808 2.619 2.959 2.819

 

    
Inyo County       

Bishop

2.817 2.655 2.943 2.769

 

       
Kern County    

Bakersfield

2.723 2.545 2.949 2.719

Ridgecrest

2.859 2.499 2.719 2.551

 

       
Los Angeles County    

Alhambra

2.684 2.502 2.799 2.839

Arcadia

2.765 2.589 2.968 2.689

Burbank

2.761 2.597 2.863 2.939

Culver City

2.822 2.657 2.999 2.799

Glendale

2.767 2.595 2.999 2.699

Glendora

2.692 2.494 2.960 2.756

Inglewood

2.753 2.569 2.832 2.766

Lancaster

2.744 2.582 2.949 2.721

Long Beach

2.720 2.569 2.896 2.755

Los Angeles

2.788 2.606 2.907 2.659

Manhattan Beach

2.749 2.571 2.894 2.439

Montebello

2.779 2.543 2.679 2.619

Santa Clarita

2.799 2.643 2.959 2.999

Santa Monica

2.861 2.662 3.199 2.715

Van Nuys

2.675 2.540 2.834 2.567

Whittier

2.703 2.552 2.730 2.843

Woodland Hills

2.789 2.612 2.992 2.605

 

       
Orange County    

Anaheim

2.697 2.530 2.789 2.535

Fullerton

2.674 2.493 2.799 2.729

Huntington Beach

2.719 2.535 2.919 2.679

La Habra

2.651 2.469 2.869 2.899

Laguna Beach

2.835 2.672 2.979 2.839

Newport Beach

2.826 2.655 3.030 2.804

San Clemente

2.824 2.608 2.989 2.789

Tustin

2.772 2.593 2.959 2.792

 

       
Riverside County    

Blythe

2.939 2.709 2.889 2.799

Hemet

2.785 2.602 2.939 2.799

Palm Springs

2.866 2.689 2.998 2.679

Riverside

2.703 2.505 2.842 2.769
         
San Bernardino County    
Redlands 2.672 2.520 2.875 2.556
San Bernardino 2.732 2.555 2.774 2.597
Victorville 2.831 2.639 2.849 2.821
         
San Diego County    
Chula Vista 2.785 2.588 2.974 2.839
Del Mar 2.824 2.639 2.999 2.780
Escondido 2.717 2.531 2.917 2.839
Oceanside 2.788 2.650 3.009 2.861
San Diego 2.807 2.639 3.006 2.817
         
San Luis Obispo County    
San Luis Obispo 2.873 2.691 3.049 2.879
         
Santa Barbara County    
Lompoc 2.843 2.649 2.992 2.789
Santa Barbara 2.854 2.720 2.912 2.840
Santa Maria 2.844 2.664 3.039 2.859
         
Tulare County    
Porterville2.726 2.549 2.817 2.619
Visalia2.761 2.590 2.999 2.597
         
Ventura County    
Ventura 2.747 2.571 2.864 2.668
         
So. Cal. Avg 2.774 2.593 2.919 2.745

The Auto Club's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 2,800 Southern California gas stations. Oil Price Information Service — the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information, provides the data. Editors, for regional average daily fuel prices nationwide, please go to www.fuelgaugereport.com.

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CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Automobile Club of Southern California. All Rights Reserved.
The Automobile Club of Southern California is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the following California counties: Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.