LA Auto Club: Local Gas Prices Trickle Lower

LOS ANGELES--Sept. 30, 2005--Hurricane Rita's effect on Southern California gas prices has been negligible and gasoline prices continue their slow downward march. More rapid price declines are expected in the coming weeks, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.921, which is 2.3 cents lower than last week, 13 cents higher than last month and 83 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.967 -- 1.2 cents below last week's price, 15 cents above last month and 83 cents above last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.017, down 1.9 cents from last week, 15 cents higher than last month and 75 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $2.948, down 1.5 cents from last week, 16 cents above last month and 83 cents higher than last year.

"Southern California has been relatively immune from dramatic price spikes. This is because California's unique blend of gas does not come from Gulf Coast refiners," Auto Club spokeswoman Carol Thorp said. "Indicators point to the lower price trend continuing for at least the next couple of weeks."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m., Sept. 30:

Area                        Regular   Change from      Record Price
                                       last week
Los Angeles-Long Beach       $2.921    -2.3 cents    $2.999 (9/6/2005)

Orange County                $2.875    -3.5 cents    $2.970 (9/6/2005)

San Diego                    $2.967    -1.2 cents    $3.060 (9/5/2005)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
 Lompoc                      $3.017    -1.9 cents    $3.111 (9/7/2005)

Riverside-San Bernardino     $2.948    -1.5 cents    $3.030 (9/9/2005)

Bakersfield                  $3.040    -1.7 cents    $3.167 (9/9/2005)

Las Vegas                    $2.859    -2.9 cents    $2.968 (9/8/2005)