(LOS ANGELES, September 26, 2003) Gasoline prices declined moderately throughout the Southwest for the fourth straight week as retailers continued taking profits, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California�s Weekend Gas Watch.
Currently, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in the Los AngelesLong Beach area is $2.010 per gallon, which is 5.4 cents lower than last week, 6 cents lower than last month and 41 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $ 2.019, which is 6.4 cents below last week�s level, 9 cents below last month and 37cents higher than last year. Motorists in the central coast pay an average price of $2.109, which is 5.6 cents lower than last week�s price, 4 cents below last month and 41 cents higher than last year.
"The retail price of gasoline has been going down steadily in the past month, however, at the wholesale level the price declines have been much steeper," said Carol Thorp, Auto Club spokesperson. "This is allowing retailers to take profits of approximately 41 cents per gallon in Los Angeles, 37 cents per gallon in San Diego and 53 cents per gallon in the Santa Barbara area. Generally, a retail profit margin of about ten cents per gallon is considered healthy."
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips.
Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Sept. 26:
Area | Regular | Change from last week | Record Price |
Los AngelesLong Beach | $2.010 | -5.4 cents | $2.167 (3/22/03) |
San Diego | $2.019 | -6.4 cents | $2.211 (3/20/03) |
Santa BarbaraSanta MariaLompoc | $2.109 | -5.6 cents | $2.233 (8/27/03) |
Las Vegas, NV | $1.818 | -5.5 cents | $2.063 (3/25/03) |
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | $1.902 | -5.7 cents | $2.146 (8/26/03) |
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