Auto Club: Monthly Average Gas Price Climbs 14 Cents

(LOS ANGELES, Feb. 15, 2005) — Southern California's average price for regular gasoline rose about 14 cents during the past month, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report. Prices are about 19 cents higher than February 2004.

The Southern California February average price for regular self-serve unleaded gasoline is $2.130 which compares to a Jan. 15 average of $1.989 and a year-ago average of $1.940. Statewide, the average price for February is $2.092, up from $1.940 in January.

"We're seeing what has become a typical late winter price increase as California refiners change from producing a winter formulation fuel to a summer formula," said Auto Club spokeswoman Carol Thorp. "However, the increases started at a point that is about 19 cents higher than last year, so there is a chance that springtime fuel prices may go higher than the records set last spring, because demand for gasoline remains strong."

The lowest average price in California is in Tracy, where regular is selling for $1.915. Santa Barbara reported the state's highest average price at $2.288. Nationally, the average price is $1.89, up from $1.812 in January.

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

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.

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