Auto Club: Brakes Applied to Gas Prices; Prices Dip After 14 Weeks of Increases

    LOS ANGELES--April 19, 2002--For the first time in 15 weeks, the average price of gasoline in some Southern California areas dipped slightly from the week before, according to the Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
    The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips.
    Currently, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $1.626 per gallon, which is one-tenth of a cent lower than last week's price, 14 cents higher than last month's price and 11 cents lower than the price at this time last year.
    In San Diego the price is $1.677, which is two-tenths of a cent higher than last week's level, 13 cents higher than last month and 20 cents lower than last year. Motorists in the central coast have an average price of $1.690, which is four-tenths of a cent below last week's price, 13 cents higher than last month's price and 24 cents lower than the price last year.
    "We seem to have reached a plateau in pricing, with last week's prices barely moving and this week's actually dipping a little," said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. "However, with the summer driving season almost upon us and the economy strengthening, it's likely that we'll see prices inching upward again, but how much is hard to tell."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., April 19:

Area                       Regular      Change from    Record Price
                                         last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach      $1.626      -0.1 cents     $2.036 (5/25)

San Diego                   $1.677      +0.2 cents     $2.025 (5/29)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc                      $1.690      -0.4 cents     $2.069 (5/16)

Las Vegas                   $1.496      +3.0 cents     $1.885 (3/27/00)

Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.         $1.357      +3.0 cents     $1.720 (5/30)