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Falling Demand Sends Gasoline Prices Lower

(LOS ANGELES, October 18, 2005) — The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Southern California fell by almost nine cents per gallon in the past month as motorists reduced driving after paying pump prices that topped $3 per gallon in September, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report.

The Southern California October average price for regular self-serve gasoline is $2.943, which is 8.8 cents below last month's price of $3.031.

"All time record high prices in September had their effect on demand for gasoline in October," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "Most people can't reduce essential driving, such as commuting to work. But seeing gasoline prices above $3 per gallon apparently was enough for motorists cut back discretionary driving. As demand for gasoline dropped, pump prices followed."

However, the gasoline price dynamic may change this week as forecasters chart the course of Hurricane Wilma, which is churning through the Caribbean Sea. Currently, Wilma is expected to miss the beleaguered oil producing regions of Texas and Louisiana.

Statewide, the average price for October is $2.923, down 10.6 cents from $3.029 in September. The all time record high of $3.054 was set on September 9. The lowest average price in California is in La Habra, where regular is selling for $2.782. Blythe reports the state's highest average price at $3.201.

Nationally, the average price is $2.742, down from $2.956 in September. The least expensive gasoline in the country is found in Oklahoma City, Okla., where the average gas price is $2.242. The highest average price for gas in the United States in Wailuku, Hawaii, where a gallon of regular unleaded sells for $3.75.

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

County/CityReg 10-18Reg 9-13 Pre. 10-18Pre. 9-13
Imperial County     

El Centro

2.9933.203 3.1793.399
      
Inyo County     

Bishop

3.0473.199 3.2593.325
     
Kern County     

Bakersfield

2.8893.124 3.1153.336

Ridgecrest

n/a3.199 n/a3.154
      
Los Angeles County      

Alhambra

2.8912.924 3.9793.039

Arcadia

2.9392.990 3.1793.229

Burbank

2.9363.000 3.0993.257

Culver City

3.0223.089 3.1793.542

Glendale

2.9132.991 3.1593.167

Glendora

2.8252.963 2.9593.149

Inglewood

2.8882.977 3.0993.159

Lancaster

2.9643.060 3.0293.249

Long Beach

2.8912.967 3.0113.120

Los Angeles

2.9483.015 3.0813.143

Manhattan Beach

2.9522.942 3.0993.079

Montebello

2.9152.992 2.9992.979

Santa Clarita

2.9773.006 3.1993.166

Santa Monica

2.9663.063 3.1953.359

Van Nuys

2.9092.936 3.0322.076

Whittier

2.8832.940 2.9132.977

Woodland Hills

2.9492.998 3.1653.215
      

Orange County

     

Anaheim

2.7862.904 2.8853.008

Fullerton

2.7732.907 2.9353.082

Huntington Beach

2.8092.951 2.9933.146

La Habra

2.7822.873 3.0393.091

Laguna Beach

3.0093.066 3.2193.319

Newport Beach

2.9773.052 3.1733.259

San Clemente

2.9813.038 3.2063.212

Tustin

2.9143.002 3.0593.189
      
Riverside County     

Blythe

3.2013.179 3.1993.254

Hemet

2.9592.999 2.8822.959

Palm Springs

3.0223.072 3.2293.259

Riverside

2.8812.954 3.0553.122
      
San Bernardino County     

Redlands

2.9052.942 3.2023.179

San Bernardino

2.9373.005 2.9772.897

Victorville

2.9953.070 2.9263.081
      
San Diego County     

Chula Vista

2.9393.016 3.1213.316

Del Mar

3.0343.052 3.3263.199

Escondido

2.9023.012 3.2593.229

Oceanside

2.9603.069 3.1893.319

San Diego

2.9763.042 3.1903.243
      
San Luis Obispo County     

San Luis Obispo

2.9853.061 3.2463.386
      
Santa Barbara County     

Lompoc

3.0023.084 3.2393.279

Santa Barbara

3.0093.113 3.1463.079

Santa Maria

3.0503.097 3.1943.259
      
Tulare County     

Porterville

2.9433.199 3.0343.290

Visalia

2.9433.175 3.1663.299
      
Ventura County     

Ventura

2.9272.964 2.9453.012
      
So. Calif. Avg.2.9433.031 3.1063.189

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.