Auto Club: Travelers Celebrate The Fourth At The Pump

(LOS ANGELES, July 2, 2009) – Sub-$3 per-gallon gas prices have returned to the Southland in a big way this week just in time for Fourth of July getaways, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.977 per gallon, which is 3.7 cents less than last week, 21 cents higher than last month, and $1.62 less than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.981, which is 4.7 cents less than last week’s price, 19 cents above last month, and $1.60 lower than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.044, down 1.1 cent from last week, 22 cents above last month, and $1.63 below last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $2.968, which is 3.8 cents less than last week, 21 cents more than last month, and $1.61 less than last year.

“Prices are dropping very slowly, but they haven’t been this low for Independence Day since 2005, when pump prices were averaging about $2.50 a gallon,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “For the projected 2.3 million Southland car travelers that will take holiday trips this weekend, the gas price decrease – along with numerous travel deals – will give vacationers a lot more for their money this year.”