AAA-Texas: Gas Prices Significantly Lower Than Last Thanksgiving

| Source: AAA Texas AAA Texas

HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwire - November 26, 2008) - As Texans prepare to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, motorists are finding gas prices across the state are more than a dollar less than this time last year, according to AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch.

The average price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 12 cents statewide compared to last week, from $1.882 to $1.755 a gallon. The national average price fell by 15 cents from $2.020 to $1.868.

In Amarillo travelers are paying an average of $1.667. This is the least expensive average price compared to other metropolitan areas in Texas. The state's highest price is in El Paso at $1.927 -- a decline of more than 21 cents from last week.

Houston, at $1.699, fell by more than 11 cents since last week. Dallas is reporting a price of $1.733 a gallon, a weekly decrease of more than 12 cents.

During the holiday weekend 7.8 percent of all U.S. travel will take place in Texas. Second only to California, Texas continues to be one of the states with the largest number of Thanksgiving holiday travelers with 3.18 million residents expected to take trips. Among Texans, 2.5 million plan to drive.

"AAA National anticipates five million motorists will experience vehicle problems this holiday season. Before taking to the road for a long car trip, remember to double check the tires, battery, belts, hoses and fluid levels," said AAA-Texas spokesperson Sarah Schimmer. "If you plan to travel to a colder climate, don't forget to equip your car with antifreeze."

AAA's network of approved repair facilities is a free public service to help consumers find trustworthy repair shops with certified technicians. Consumers can find Approved Auto Repair facilities online at www.AAA.com/repair.

Before you find yourself stranded along your travel route, AAA Texas suggests including the following items in the car: 

--  State and local maps
--  Cell phone car charger
--  Fully equipped first aid kit
--  Bottled water
--  Non-perishable foods
--  Tissues and/or pre-moistened towels
--  Blanket or sleeping bag
--  Tool kit including jumper cables and a tire iron

Approximately 41 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home for the holiday which is a decrease of 1.4 percent from last year's total of 41.6 million. Eighty-one percent of holiday travelers are expected to travel by automobile, 11 percent by airplane, and 8 percent by train. 

                    1 Week                                  Record  Record
           Current    Ago               Year Ago             High    High
Area       11/26/08 11/20/08 Difference 11/26/07 Difference  Date   Price
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======= =======
National   $  1.868 $  2.020     -0.152 $  3.091     -1.223 07/17/08 $4.114
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== ======
State      $  1.755 $  1.882     -0.127 $  2.957     -1.202 07/17/08 $3.985
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== ======
Amarillo   $  1.667 $  1.815     -0.148 $  3.019     -1.352 07/16/08 $3.983
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== ======
Austin-San
 Marcos    $  1.816 $  1.938     -0.122 $   3.00     -1.184 07/17/08 $3.975
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== ======
Beaumont   $  1.789 $  1.919     -0.130 $  2.947     -1.158 07/16/08 $4.001
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== ======
Corpus
 Christi   $  1.684 $  1.835     -0.151 $  2.921     -1.237 07/15/08 $3.960
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== ======
Dallas     $  1.733 $  1.856     -0.123 $  2.938     -1.205 07/16/08 $3.983
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== ======
El Paso    $  1.927 $  2.145     -0.218 $  2.959     -1.032 07/17/08 $3.967
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== ======
Ft. Worth  $  1.731 $  1.848     -0.117 $  2.922     -1.191 07/16/08 $3.975
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== ======
Galveston  $  1.733 $  1.873     -0.140 $  2.905     -1.172 07/14/08 $3.968
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== ======
Houston    $  1.699 $  1.817     -0.118 $  2.906     -1.207 07/17/08 $3.960
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== ======
San
 Antonio   $  1.777 $  1.881     -0.104 $  2.950     -1.173 07/16/08 $3.957
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== ======
Texarkana
 (TX Only) $  1.699 $  1.829     -0.130 $  3.013     -1.314 07/17/08 $3.981
           ======== ======== ========== ======== ========== ======== ======

Contact Information: Contacts: Dan Ronan - Statewide/Dallas Ronan.dan@aaa-texas.com danronan@sprint.blackberry.net 469-221-8217 office 469-583-7070 cell Sarah Schimmer - Houston Schimmer.sarah@aaa-texas.com 713-284-6552 office 281-797-7886 cell