Auto Club: Slight Rise in Pump Prices After Terrorist Attack

    LOS ANGELES--Sept. 14, 2001--For the third consecutive week, the average price of unleaded regular self-serve gasoline rose in Southern California, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch.
    However, the hikes were much smaller than they were during the previous reporting week, indicating that oil companies and retailers are trying to show restraint in light of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. In the previous week, prices rose around 7 cents per gallon.
    The current price in the Los Angeles/Long Beach reporting area is $1.632 per gallon, 1.7 cents higher than the price at this time last week. The price in San Diego is 2.5 cents higher than last week's average. The price for Central Coast motorists is virtually unchanged, only one-tenth of a cent higher than last week. The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips.
    "Despite some isolated reports of gas gouging, prices have been stable following the terrorist attacks," said Jeffrey Spring, Auto Club spokesperson. "Fortunately, the nation's oil and gasoline supply was never threatened by the terrible events of earlier this week. Motorists this weekend should find no fuel shortages in our region."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m. Sept. 14.

Area                             Regular Change from  Record Price
                                          last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach           $1.632  +1.7 cents   $2.036 (set 5/25)

San Diego                        $1.739  +2.5 cents   $2.025 (5/29)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc $1.752  +0.1 cents   $2.069 (5/16)

Las Vegas                        $1.512  +2.2 cents   $1.885 (3/27/00)

Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.              $1.426  +2.2 cents   $1.720 (5/30)