Despite Recent Run-Up, Average Monthly Gas Price Continues to Show Decline, Says Auto Club

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - September 11, 2007) - Although recent days have brought increased prices at the pump, the overall average monthly gas price for Southern California declined slightly in most regions compared to the prior month, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report.

The Southern California September average price for regular self-serve gasoline is $2.868, a four-cent drop from Aug.14 and 62 cents below the all-time record high of $3.486 set in May.

"We've seen the average monthly price drop for four consecutive months, and usually that pace continues through the fall. However, recent concerns about hurricanes and Midwest gasoline production have caused prices to bump up in recent days. No one can predict with certainty at this point whether the price increases will continue or whether we will see a further decline in prices," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp.

In California, the average price for September is $2.866, down six cents from $2.929 in August. The state's lowest average price is in Glendora, where regular sells for $2.713. Tahoe City has the state's highest average at $3.099.

Nationally, the average price is $2.814, up five cents from $2.767 in August. New Jersey has the lowest average price, at $2.540.

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

                                     Reg      Reg      Pre      Pre
County/City                        9-11-07  8-14-07  9-11-07  8-14-07
                                   -------  -------  -------  -------
Imperial County
El Centro                            2.986    3.124    3.229    3.384

Inyo County
Bishop                               2.995    2.909    3.226    2.939

Kern County
Bakersfield                          2.784    2.832    3.008    3.030
Ridgecrest                           2.864    2.944    3.059    3.204

Los Angeles County
Alhambra                             2.744    2.803    2.936    2.986
Arcadia                              2.801    2.841    3.079    3.179
Burbank                              2.857    2.904    3.052    3.130
Culver City                          2.954    3.021    3.079    3.249
Glendale                             2.867    2.934    3.065    3.139
Glendora                             2.713    2.788    2.907    3.048
Inglewood                            2.801    2.857    2.989    3.039
Lancaster                            2.921    2.966    3.143    3.183
Long Beach                           2.747    2.786    2.929    2.992
Los Angeles                          2.860    2.935    3.049    3.141
Manhattan Beach                      2.902    2.942    3.149    3.163
Montebello                           2.758    2.839    2.939    3.032
Santa Clarita                        2.803    2.876    2.994    3.066
Santa Monica                         2.930    2.977    3.104    3.166
Van Nuys                             2.817    2.869    3.024    3.069
Whittier                             2.764    2.791    2.965    3.010
Woodland Hills                       2.892    2.937    3.051    3.155

Orange County
Anaheim                              2.718    2.720    2.926    2.952
Fullerton                            2.745    2.751    2.946    2.969
Huntington Beach                     2.745    2.757    2.984    2.977
La Habra                             2.727    2.720    2.927    2.949
Laguna Beach                         2.942    2.974    3.143    3.234
Newport Beach                        2.861    2.897    3.083    3.129
San Clemente                         2.957    3.030    3.122    3.219
Tustin                               2.844    2.884    3.082    3.129

Riverside County
Blythe                               3.032    3.150    3.249    3.410
Hemet                                2.803    2.819    3.032    3.039
Palm Springs                         2.877    2.872    3.119    3.099
Riverside                            2.781    2.798    3.011    3.009

San Bernardino County
Redlands                             2.864    2.892    3.299    3.094
San Bernardino                       2.831    2.861    2.918    3.027
Victorville                          2.871    2.860    3.019    3.092

San Diego County
Chula Vista                          2.900    2.881    3.126    3.189
Del Mar                              2.987    3.029    3.159    3.199
Escondido                            2.821    2.843    3.001    3.036
Oceanside                            2.905    2.944    3.129    3.211
San Diego                            2.906    2.924    3.129    3.107

San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo                      3.145    3.163    3.459    3.399

Santa Barbara County
Lompoc                               2.852    2.953    3.044    3.399
Santa Barbara                        3.062    3.139    3.212    3.349
Santa Maria                          3.072    3.149    3.339    3.409

Tulare County
Porterville                          2.849    2.999    2.899    2.999
Visalia                              2.898    3.015    3.239    3.284

Ventura County
Ventura                              2.904    2.895    3.085    3.189

So. Calif. Avg.                      2.868    2.912    3.076    3.133

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 Jeffrey Spring (714) 885-2333