Auto Club: Gas Prices Post 17% Climb From February, Exceed $3

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- March 13, 2007 --Southern California gas prices added 45 cents per gallon for regular gasoline in one month according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's monthly Fuel Gauge Report. This is a gain of 17% from February to March.

The Southern California March average price for regular self-serve gasoline is $3.101, compared to $2.648 on Feb. 13. The record high price for Southern California was $3.417, set on May 16 of last year.

"The typical springtime trend of rising gas prices before the switch to the more expensive summer blend of fuel started earlier this year, led by what refiners say were maintenance and unscheduled outages that reduced production," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "The majority of Southern California communities now have gas prices averaging higher than $3 per gallon for regular."

Statewide, the average price for March is $3.106 up from $2.663 in February. The lowest average price in the state is in Glendora, where regular is still selling for under $3 at $2.984. San Francisco has the state's highest average price at $3.319.

Nationally, the average price is $2.543, up nearly 32 cents from $2.227 in February. California is the state with the highest gas price average. Wyoming has the lowest average price, at $2.310.

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

                              Reg      Reg      Prem.    Prem.
County/City                   3/12     2/13     3/12     2/13
---------------              -----    -----    -----    -----
Imperial County
El Centro                    3.269    2.891    3.429    3.139

Inyo County
Bishop                       3.115    2.609    2.274    2.769

Kern County
Bakersfield                  3.137    2.633    3.340    2.817
Ridgecrest                   3.059    2.609    3.209    2.794

Los Angeles County
Alhambra                     3.032    2.554    3.189    2.799
Arcadia                      3.082    2.637    3.304    2.859
Burbank                      3.114    2.645    3.238    2.829
Culver City                  3.176    2.679    3.279    2.959
Glendale                     3.090    2.628    3.289    2.839
Glendora                     2.984    2.486    3.249    2.671
Inglewood                    3.072    2.602    3.259    2.829
Lancaster                    3.088    2.687    3.216    2.892
Long Beach                   3.065    2.599    3.227    2.739
Los Angeles                  3.107    2.656    3.288    2.834
Manhattan Beach              3.117    2.699    3.329    2.876
Montebello                   3.016    2.665    3.186    2.769
Santa Clarita                3.068    2.629    3.239    2.846
Santa Monica                 3.066    2.732    3.499    2.959
Van Nuys                     3.048    2.588    3.157    2.689
Whittier                     3.011    2.538    3.154    2.732
Woodland Hills               3.114    2.643    3.329    2.843

Orange County
Anaheim                      3.020    2.503    3.183    2.696
Fullerton                    3.012    2.537    3.188    2.691
Huntington Beach             3.044    2.537    3.234    2.728
La Habra                     3.001    2.501    3.199    2.674
Laguna Beach                 3.219    2.739    3.459    2.949
Newport Beach                3.098    2.643    3.320    2.827
San Clemente                 3.106    2.688    3.339    2.879
Tustin                       3.065    2.611    3.292    2.839

Riverside County
Blythe                       3.189    2.817    3.259    2.929
Hemet                        3.073    2.603    3.299    2.789
Palm Springs                 3.122    2.694    3.319    2.899
Riverside                    3.048    2.602    3.258    2.838

San Bernardino County
Redlands                     3.142    2.632    3.292    2.912
San Bernardino               3.105    2.628    3.206    2.721
Victorville                  3.102    2.618    3.172    2.668

San Diego County
Chula Vista                  3.112    2.655    3.308    2.871
Del Mar                      3.186    2.739    3.339    2.924
Escondido                    3.055    2.647    3.352    2.821
Oceanside                    3.097     2.65    3.270    2.862
San Diego                    3.125    2.669    3.295    2.879

San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo              3.172    2.728    3.329    2.894

Santa Barbara County
Lompoc                       3.129    2.672    3.279    2.857
Santa Barbara                3.231    2.814    3.381    2.999
Santa Maria                  3.175     2.74    3.279    2.832

Tulare County
Porterville                  3.166    2.689    3.129    2.874
Visalia                      3.154    2.692    3.359    3.001

Ventura County
Ventura                      3.093    2.654    3.230    2.856

So. Calif. Average           3.101    2.648    3.255    2.837

The Auto Club's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 3,900 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.

Contact Information: Contact: Carol Thorp or Jeffrey Spring (714) 885-2333