Auto Club: Monthly Gas Price Average Sets New Record -- Up Nearly $1 Since November Low

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- May 15, 2007 -- The average monthly price of gasoline in Southern California climbed for the fifth consecutive month to a new record high, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's monthly Fuel Gauge Report. The monthly average price has increased nearly a dollar per gallon or about 40 percent from the 12-month low in November 2007 of $2.498.

The Southern California May average price for regular self-serve gasoline of $3.486 has exceeded the prior record of $3.417 per gallon which was set on May 16 of last year. In one month the average price has risen about 13 cents from $3.354 on April 17.

"While the monthly average price set a record, we have seen the daily averages for many cities drop slightly in recent days," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "Nationwide last week, gasoline inventories increased, and state wholesale prices in California also decreased. If these trends continue, and if refineries in the West don't malfunction, we could see added downward pressure on pump prices."

Statewide, the average price for May is $3.478, up from $3.338 in April. The state's lowest average price is in Chico, where regular sells for $3.362. San Francisco has the state's highest average at $3.688.

Nationally, the average price is $3.087, up 22 cents from April. California is the state with the highest gas price average. South Carolina has the lowest average price, at $2.838. There are now 31 states with an average price over $3.

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

County/City       Reg 5-15      Reg 4-17      Pre 5-15      Pre 4-17

Imperial County
El Centro           3.635         3.559        3.839          3.793

Inyo County
Bishop              3.443         3.365        3.641          3.599

Kern County
Bakersfield         3.460         3.329        3.664          3.515
Ridgecrest          3.466         3.359        3.466          3.304

Los Angeles County
Alhambra            3.446         3.298        3.612          3.539
Arcadia             3.476         3.344        3.702          3.579
Burbank             3.467         3.342        3.664          3.520
Culver City         3.534         3.376        3.738          3.629
Glendale            3.470         3.339        3.711          3.559
Glendora            3.449         3.252        3.449          3.486
Inglewood           3.428         3.303        3.619          3.579
Lancaster           3.507         3.347        3.719          3.527
Long Beach          3.450         3.321        3.637          3.490
Los Angeles         3.509         3.357        3.658          3.495
Manhattan Beach     3.512         3.397        3.779          3.619
Montebello          3.392         3.270        3.582          3.389
Santa Clarita       3.422         3.315        3.619          3.489
Santa Monica        3.515         3.363        3.726          3.619
Van Nuys            3.422         3.299        3.599          3.469
Whittier            3.391         3.269        3.479          3.406
Woodland Hills      3.463         3.353        3.609          3.479

Orange County
Anaheim             3.413         3.281        3.563          3.447
Fullerton           3.425         3.289        3.607          3.372
Huntington Beach    3.425         3.298        3.612          3.480
La Habra            3.404         3.245        3.559          3.419
Laguna Beach        3.632         3.389        3.632          3.599
Newport Beach       3.514         3.373        3.755          3.619
San Clemente        3.528         3.395        3.739          3.569
Tustin              3.500         3.337        3.759          3.552

Riverside County
Blythe              3.627         3.499        3.799          3.539
Hemet               3.463         3.344        3.586          3.429
Palm Springs        3.470         3.393        3.719          3.627
Riverside           3.427         3.288        3.607          3.530

San Bernardino County
Redlands            3.502         3.345        3.699          3.579
San Bernardino      3.457         3.344        3.479          3.392
Victorville         3.440         3.367        3.528          3.439

San Diego County
Chula Vista         3.464         3.389        3.612          3.612
Del Mar             3.639         3.479        3.769          3.659
Escondido           3.426         3.269        3.671          3.552
Oceanside           3.495         3.381        3.725          3.564
San Diego           3.494         3.380        3.692          3.558

San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo     3.545         3.465        3.819          3.659

Santa Barbara County
Lompoc              3.532         3.308        3.859          3.259
Santa Barbara       3.609         3.476        3.796          3.746
Santa Maria         3.573         3.421        3.779          3.639

Tulare County
Porterville         3.519         3.367        3.549          3.379
Visalia             3.508         3.374        3.649          3.364

Ventura County
Ventura             3.462         3.340        3.597          3.457

So. Calif. Avg.     3.486         3.354        3.660          3.456

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