National Average Gas Price Dips, Rises Again as Winter Cold Kicks In, AAA Fuel Gauge Report Shows

ORLANDO, Fla.--Jan. 18, 2005--The national average price of self-serve regular gasoline is $1.812 per gallon, down 2.5 cents since mid-December, AAA's daily, online Fuel Gauge Report, http://www.fuelgaugereport.com, shows. The average had fallen to as low as $1.766 on Jan. 6, 2005 - the lowest mark since prices soared last spring - before rising nearly a nickel in the last two weeks.

Gas prices have increased as crude oil prices rose from a low of $41 per barrel in early December to more than $48 per barrel today. The sharp arrival of winter cold to many parts of the United States during the last week has spurred demand for heating oil and the crude oil needed to produce it. As crude oil prices have risen, so have gas prices.

In the Great Lakes region, gas prices are up an average of 8.1 cents per gallon since mid-December to $1.851. The average price increased in the Midwest by 2.2 cents to $1.801 per gallon.

The average price fell since mid-December in the Southwest; down 3.9 cents per gallon to $1.755. Prices are 2.8 cents lower in the Southeast to $1.752. In New England prices have declined by 9.2 cents to $1.84 per gallon. Gas prices are lower in the Mid-Atlantic region by an average of 3.3 cents per gallon to $1.84. In the West, prices dropped the most, down 26.4 cents to 1.822 per gallon.

Nationwide, the price of self-serve, mid-grade averages $1.924 per gallon, a decrease of 2.7 cents per gallon since last month, and 26.5 cents higher than one year ago. Self-serve premium averages $1.994 per gallon, down 2.8 cents since mid-December and 27.6 cents higher than one year ago.

Average regional prices for self-serve regular in mid-December of last year were: West, $1.58; Great Lakes, $1.587; New England, $1.598; Mid-Atlantic, $1.565; Southwest, $1.502; Midwest, $1.531; and Southeast, $1.507.

The national average prices for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline for AAA's mid-January survey for the last five years are: 2004, $1.561; 2003, $1.559; 2002, $1.346; 2001, $1.449; and 2000, $1.505.

AAA's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data from Oil Price Information Service, the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information. AAA purchases the data and makes it available free on the Internet as a public service. Average daily prices for the nation, all 50 states and more than 250 localities are available for all grades of gasoline, making the site the most current and complete public source of fuel price information.

As the nation's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 47 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at http://www.aaa.com.