LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- October 27, 2006 -- Gas prices have declined so rapidly in California during the past two-and-a-half months that California motorists are now in the rare position of paying less for gasoline than residents in six other Western states, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch.
"Typically, Californians pay the second-highest gas prices in the country behind Hawaii motorists," said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. "But because California's prices have declined at such a rapid pace over the last 10 weeks, local drivers are now seeing lower prices at the pump than motorists in Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington."
California's statewide average is at $2.46 a gallon, while the other higher statewide averages are: $2.469 in Oregon, $2.471 in Idaho; $2.488 in Nevada, $2.507 in Washington, $2.698 in Alaska and $2.938 in Hawaii.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.468, which is 6.2 cents lower than last week, 33 cents lower than last month, and 37 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.434, 4.2 cents below last week's price, 28 cents below last month, and 43 cents below last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.746, down 4.9 cents from last week, 27 cents below last month, and 20 cents lower than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $2.428, down 6.7 cents from last week, 32 cents below last month, and 44 cents lower than last year.
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m., Oct. 27:
Area Regular One-week change 10-week drop, Record Price
8/18/06-10/27/06
Los Angeles -
Long Beach $2.468 -6.2 cents -76 cents $3.402 (5/13/2006)
Orange County $2.384 -6.7 cents -82 cents $3.371 (5/17/2006)
San Diego $2.434 -4.2 cents -81 cents $3.438 (5/15/2006)
Santa Barbara-
Santa Maria-
Lompoc $2.746 -4.9 cents -65 cents $3.491 (5/16/2006)
Riverside -
San Bernardino $2.428 -6.7 cents -84 cents $3.445 (5/15/2006)
Bakersfield $2.474 -4.3 cents -73 cents $3.450 (5/16/2006)
Las Vegas, NV $2.399 -5.1 cents -62 cents $3.176 (5/17/2006)
Contact Information: Contact: Jeffrey Spring/Marie Montgomery (714) 885-2333