(LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11) Industry fear and speculation concerning war with Iraq and the possibility of another terrorist strike on the United States continue to push average retail gasoline prices to levels not seen since July 2001, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's monthly Fuel Gauge Report.
The Southern California average price for regular self-serve unleaded gasoline is $1.725, up more than 11 cents from the Jan. 14 average of $1.611. The lowest average price in the region can be found in Ridgecrest, where drivers can pump regular self-serve unleaded gasoline for $1.631. San Francisco Bay-area motorists now pay an average of $1.86, up 14 cents from last month.
Nationally, the average price for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline rose nearly 14 cents to $1.605. Georgia has the lowest state average at $1.485, about 13 cents higher than last month.
"Prices are moving higher than supply and demand warrant," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "We believe that this is in part a panicked response by wholesalers and retailers to as-yet undetermined oil supply shortfalls due to an as-yet unannounced war. We expected some increase due to the ongoing strike in Venezuela and higher demand for heating oil brought on by colder temperatures in the northern states, but not on this level."
To cushion family budgets, consumers are urged to shop aggressively for the best price on gasoline, look for ways to limit their gasoline consumption and keep their vehicles properly maintained to increase fuel economy, Thorp added.
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
County | Reg | Pre | |
Imperial County | |||
EL CENTRO | 1.767 | 1.982 | |
Inyo County | |||
BISHOP | 1.859 | 1.978 | |
Kern County | |||
BAKERSFIELD | 1.655 | 1.845 | |
RIDGECREST | 1.631 | 1.823 | |
ALHAMBRA | 1.662 | 1.882 | |
ARCADIA | 1.720 | 1.939 | |
BURBANK | 1.697 | 1.889 | |
CULVER CITY | 1.767 | 1.979 | |
GLENDALE | 1.685 | 1.866 | |
GLENDORA | 1.709 | 1.899 | |
INGLEWOOD | 1.718 | 1.899 | |
LANCASTER | 1.679 | 1.899 | |
LONG BEACH | 1.721 | 1.910 | |
LOS ANGELES | 1.721 | 1.933 | |
MANHATTAN BEACH | 1.727 | 1.939 | |
MONTEBELLO | 1.713 | 1.842 | |
SANTA CLARITA | 1.764 | 1.959 | |
SANTA MONICA | 1.785 | 1.966 | |
VAN NUYS | 1.664 | 1.785 | |
WHITTIER | 1.695 | 1.902 | |
WOODLAND HILLS | 1.703 | 1.931 | |
Orange County | |||
ANAHEIM | 1.671 | 1.851 | |
FULLERTON | 1.698 | 1.864 | |
HUNTINGTON BEACH | 1.707 | 1.919 | |
LA HABRA | 1.679 | 1.859 | |
LAGUNA BEACH | 1.854 | 1.998 | |
NEWPORT BEACH | 1.803 | 1.974 | |
SAN CLEMENTE | 1.775 | 1.986 | |
Riverside County | |||
BLYTHE | 1.908 | 2.079 | |
HEMET | 1.680 | 1.899 | |
PALM SPRINGS | 1.771 | 1.959 | |
RIVERSIDE | 1.685 | 1.829 | |
San Bernardino County | |||
REDLANDS | 1.684 | 1.887 | |
SAN BERNARDINO | 1.701 | 1.911 | |
VICTORVILLE | 1.667 | 1.864 | |
San Diego County | |||
CHULA VISTA | 1.748 | 1.969 | |
DEL MAR | 1.772 | 1.959 | |
ESCONDIDO | 1.729 | 1.907 | |
OCEANSIDE | 1.775 | 1.989 | |
SAN DIEGO | 1.765 | 1.956 | |
San Luis Obispo County | |||
SAN LUIS OBISPO | 1.698 | 1.879 | |
LOMPOC | 1.725 | 1.919 | |
SANTA BARBARA | 1.805 | 2.059 | |
SANTA MARIA | 1.732 | 1.923 | |
Tulare County | |||
PORTERVILLE | 1.637 | 1.839 | |
VISALIA | 1.664 | 1.892 | |
Ventura County | |||
VENTURA | 1.711 | 1.924 | |
So. Calif. Avg. | 1.725 | 1.918 |
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.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club�s members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club�s Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
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