10 Years Ago Today - Gas Prices Down for Sixth Straight Week But Still 30% Higher Than Last Year

HOUSTON--July 10, 2004--Gas prices continued their steady downward march for the sixth consecutive week as crude oil prices moved higher, according to AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch.

The national average for regular self-serve gasoline is $1.889 a gallon, 1.2 cents lower than last week's average, but 40 cents higher than last year's average. The Texas average for a gallon of regular self-serve dropped 2.1 cents to $1.772 a gallon.

Corpus Christi has the cheapest fuel at $1.681 a gallon, down 1.7 cents since last week. Once again, Beaumont posted the biggest weekly drop of 3.9 cents to $1.746 a gallon. Dallas tops the list at $1.813 a gallon, down 1.7 cents compared to a week ago.

"Crude oil prices edged closer to $40 a barrel this week," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "Continued concern about disruptions with Middle Eastern supplies and labor unrest in Nigeria have threatened oil supplies and sent crude oil prices spiraling upward."

AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for automobile trips.

Average Daily Prices as of 12:01 AM, July 9, 2004:

                                Weekly           New           Year
Area                Current     Change      Record Price     Ago Price
----                -------    --------    ---------------   ---------
National            $1.889   - 1.2 cents   $2.054 (5/26/04)   $1.489

State               $1.772   - 2.1 cents   $1.927 (5/26/04)   $1.390

Austin-San Marcos   $1.752   - 2.7 cents   $1.929 (5/27/04)   $1.355

Beaumont            $1.746   - 3.9 cents   $1.903 (6/1/04)    $1.366

Corpus Christi      $1.681   - 1.7 cents   $1.925 (5/26/04)   $1.328

Dallas              $1.813   - 1.7 cents   $1.932 (5/27/04)   $1.405

Fort Worth          $1.792   - 1.1 cents   $1.924 (5/28/04)   $1.390

Galveston -         $1.751   - 2.9 cents   $1.922 (6/1/04)    $1.394
Texas City

Houston             $1.752   - 2.3 cents   $1.909 (6/1/04)    $1.380

San Antonio         $1.711   - 2.6 cents   $1.952 (5/26/04)   $1.345

AAA Texas, an affiliate of AAA National, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance service, travel agency, financial products, insurance products and services, automotive pricing, buying and financing, trip planning services, and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' Web site at www.aaa-texas.com.