Auto Club: Gas Prices Increase for Fourth Week


LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - September 28, 2007) - Gas prices throughout the Southland continue to rise, although at a slower pace than in the prior four weeks, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.961, which is 2.9 cents higher than last week, 21 cents above last month, and 19 cents more than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.989, which is 2.7 cents above last week's price, 18 cents up from last month, and 30 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.098, up five-tenths of a cent from last week, 12 cents above last month, and 10 cents more than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $2.958, 2.8 cents more than last week, 21 cents above last month, and 22 cents higher than last year.

"Southern California has experienced a gas price spike in the fall in all but two years since 2000, so it isn't unusual," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "However, the reason for the spike seems to change each year. This year we're seeing a jump in oil prices and concerns over hurricane weather in the Gulf of Mexico, and that is affecting gas prices nationwide."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m., Sept. 28:

Area                           Regular       One-week        Record Price
                                              Change
Los Angeles - Long Beach     $    2.961   + 2.9 cents  $  3.487  (5/9/2007)

Orange County                $    2.921   + 1.1 cents  $  3.479  (5/8/2007)

San Diego                    $    2.989   + 2.7 cents  $  3.503  (5/8/2007)

Santa Barbara - Santa Maria -
 Lompoc                      $    3.098   + 0.5 cents  $  3.614 (5/15/2007)

Riverside - San Bernardino   $    2.958   + 2.8 cents  $  3.486  (5/8/2007)

Bakersfield                  $    2.975    + 7.0 cent  $  3.489  (5/7/2007)

Las Vegas, NV                $    2.754    + 1.7 cent  $  3.209 (5/29/2007)

Contact Information: Contact: Marie Montgomery Carol Thorp (714) 885-2333