Weekend Gas Watch Tracks New Records But Price Increases are Flattening

    LOS ANGELES--May 25, 2001--The spike in gasoline prices that began two-and-a-half months ago appears to be flattening out, according to the Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
    The Los Angeles-Long Beach area continued to set new record highs for the average price of gasoline, but the increase from the previous week was 1.3 cents. Since April 27, the price of regular unleaded in the L.A./Long Beach area has risen 25 cents per gallon. The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips.
    In the Los Angeles-Long Beach area, the average price of a gallon of unleaded regular gas stood at $2.036, a record level. In San Diego, the average price was $2.020 per gallon, fractionally lower than the record of $2.021 set May 23. In the Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc area the average price was $2.040 per gallon, also lower than the May 16 record of $2.069.
    In Las Vegas the average price of $1.843 was unchanged from last week's average price. (The record for Las Vegas is $1.885 set March 27, 2000.) In the Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz., area the average price was $1.712. This equaled that area's record of $1.712 set May 16.
    "We've been looking for a flattening of the curve on gas prices and we're finally seeing it," said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. "Apparently the twin influences of full gasoline inventories and conservation measures by consumers are having an impact on prices."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m. May 25.

Area                                     Regular   Mid-Grade  Premium

Los Angeles-Long Beach                   $2.036     $2.167     $2.203

San Diego                                $2.020     $2.151     $2.186

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc         $2.040     $2.172     $2.208

Las Vegas                                $1.843     $1.943     $2.014

Phoenix-Mesa                             $1.712     $1.786     $1.888

    Millions of Southern Californians are on the move this holiday weekend. To aid in travel planning we've provided miles and costs for three lengths of trips: a one-tank trip, a two-tank trip and a three-tank trip. Estimates are based on a car with a 13-gallon fuel tank that gets 24 miles per gallon.

From            To            Round-Trip  Gallons   Cost   Price/Gallon
                                Miles

San Diego       Big Bear Lake    287        11     $22.22     $2.023

L.A.            Las Vegas        584        24     $46.55     $1.939

Santa Barbara   San Francisco    708        29.5   $60.29     $2.043

    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by the organization's emergency road service, insurance services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs and legislative advocacy.